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BOOK 



FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, 



IN MIDDLEBOEOUGII, 



PLYMOUTH COUNTY. MASS. 



WITH NOTICES OP OTHER CHURCHES IN THAT TOWN. 



BOSTON: 

C. C. P. MOODY, PRINTER, 52 WASHINGTON STREET. 
1852. 



y y 



•T, 



L' 



PRErACE. 



Tlie Church took some action in the }'e;ir 1838, on tlie subject of a 
reprint of tlie catalogue of its members from the beginning, in connection 
with such historical matter as might be deemed useful and of general 
interest. A committee of three was then chosen for this business, and 
was increased in 1841 by the addition of three other brethren. Little 
was done, however, for several years. 

In 184;3 the pastor favored his people with two discourses on "The 
Faithfulness of God to this Church," during the one hundred and fifty 
years of its existence, which period closed with the Sabbath on which 
the discourses were preached. 

The interest on this subject was revived, and the church soon after 
voted that these Century and Half Discourses should be printed with the 
contemplated catalogue and history. 

One of the original members having died, the vacancy was filled in 
1846, and still another brother added in 1847. But time passed on 
without the matter being taken up in earnest till 1851, when only three 
of the eight, who had been chosen for this work, remained here to 
accomplish it. 

The historical part was put to press early in 1852, and the discourses 
soon followed'; — but on account of the incompleteness of records, and 
the labor of getting the necessary information from other sources, the 
Descriptive Catalogue could not be prepared at that time. 

Much effort has since been made to gather facts, to procure as full an 
account of each member as is attainable at this distance of time. This 
delay, however, has brought to light new facts, making necessar}' the 
addition of Notes and a more extended Errata. 

The committee in concluding a work, which, on account of the peculiar 
difficulties attending it, has been long protracted, cheiish the hope that 
what they have imperfectly done may lead the living members of the 
church to ponder well on the various relations they sustain to those who 
have died in the Lord, to one another, and to all who, by their prayers 
and efforts, may yet be brought into spiritual communion with them- 
selves on earth and in heaven. 

To the favor of God we now commend the result of our labors, pray- 
ing that His blessing may make it useful to the present and future 
generations of this church and this people. 

MlDDLEBOROUGH, ./za/^, 1854. 



CON T E N T S 



Ahbrcviations, table of, . . • 

Admissions under each pastor 2"^ in 
old age G2, table of annual and hy 
pastorates, Disc* 53, candidates 
for, 

Anecdotes of Mr. Palmer 8, 28 ; Dea. 
Thomas, 

Articles of Faith, original 15, revised 
49, remarks on, . . . . 

Backas, ]\ev. Isaac 05, 70, and notes at 

Baptist Societies 70, others, 

Catalogues, of this church 81 — 115,e.\- 
planation of, 79, of C. C. Church, 
68, addenda, . . , . 

Cemetarics, Hill, 33, Green, 

Charities, 

Chronological Notices, Disc. 

Confession, mutual, . , . . 

Covenant, original, 18, renewal of, 19, 
. present, or revised, 48, halfway, 
79, and members of, . 

Church, first organizations, 13, 14, 
Halifax, 64, West Precinct, 63, 
Titicut, C5, North Rochester, 66, 
Four Corners, 68 ; notice of some 
members 55, additions by revivals 
26, 10, it is a legal body, 11, order 
of and rights, 28, 51, during divine 
service, 

Deacons, table of, 117, 52, induction 
of, 31, 

Deaths, additional, of members, 121, 
by small pox, .... 

Events, list of, Disc. 

E))itaphs, 33, 35, 07-8, 72, 

Fund, Parish, . . . , . 

Green, upper, 44, lower, 

Indian missions, &c., 3, 4, 

Law-suits, Palmer vs. Parish, 7, Par- 
ish vs. Parish, 9, Weld vs. Parish, 



80 



30 

61 

47 

end. 

71 



118 
45 
30 
54 
24 



118 



13 



34 



121 
117 



54 

124 

71 

46 

123 

40 



lie 



Letters by Mr. Thachcr, 23, 121, Mr. 
Bosworth, 

Meeting Houses, 5, 41, 44 ; sales of, 5, 
41, present 72, Disc. . 

Member's church, males in 1744,39; 
total in 1744, 123; under each 
pastor 27, and Disc. 55 ; on remov- 
ing to take letters 31, who became 
pastors, 54 : notice of some, 55. 
Luke Short, 59, voters who, 12, 
resident brethren in 1854, 116; 
non-residents, .... 

Ministers, members who became, 54, 
others v/ho became, 124, who 
preached as candidates, 8, 41, 

Monody, by Rev. S. Conant, 

Parishes, West, 63, North, 65, Halifax 
JB4, North Rochester, 66, Four 
Corners, 68, Baptists, 70, Metho- 
dists, .,,... 

Pastors, notices of. Fuller, 32 ; 4, 5, 6 : 
, Palmer, 34 ; 6, 7, 8 : Thachcr, 35, 
7, 8, 123 : Conant, 36 ; 5, 8, 9, 10, 
123: Weld, 39, 5, 9, 124: Barker, 
41 ; Painc,43 : Eaton,44 : Putnam, 
44: table of, 117, imposition of 
Iiands, 31, also members. 

Proprietors, twenty-six men, 4, origi- 
nal, 12 3; Hill Cemetary, 33; 
Green Cemetary, 45; Meeting 
house lot, 44 

Records, Lost, . . . . . J24 

Revivals, 26, 10, Disc. 29, 37, 40, . 41 

Sacrament of the Supper, 30, table 
furniture, 72 

Singing 27 

Towns incorporated, Middleboro', 03, 

Halifax, 64, Carver, . . -88 



32 



NOTi:.— Z)(5c. refers to the Discourses which are paged independftntly.^ An account of the 
nrst orjanization, fhe successive pastors, lerival^. &c , will also be foiuid in them. 



HISTORICAL NOTICE. 



" Considerable exertions were made by some of the 
early settlers to Christianize the natives. In Middlebor- 
ough and many other places, these efforts were atten- 
ded with a good degree of success. At the commence- 
ment of the Indian war, in 1675, there were three 
churches in this town, one at Namasket, one at Titicut, 
and one at 'Sowampset, the last of which, contained 35 
members ; all of them, 90 members." (S. Eddy's Com. 
PI. Book of Hist. Reading.) 

"In the year 1685, Governor Hinkley, of Plymouth, 
sent to the corporation in England, an account of the 
praying Indians of that colony; they amounted to 1439, 
besides boys and girls, which were supposed to be three 
times that number; at Namasket and Titicut 70, at 
Namatakeeset 40." (Hutch. His. Mass., vol. 1, p. 313.) 

Namasket was a mile from the present meeting-house 
of the first precinct, south-easterly, an Indian village of 
that name on a river of the same name ; Titicut was an 
Indian village six miles westerly, on the Cohannet, or 
Taunton river, and Namatakeeset is supposed to be the 
same as 'Sowampset, a village upon the Great Pond in 
the south part of the town, and probably this was the 
name of the "Long Pond," although the Indian name of 
that pond is not certainly known. There is no subse- 
quent account of these churches. No doubt, the "Nam- 



aschucks," worshipped with the first settlers, and before 
the organization of our church in 1694, had become 
extinct or had migrated. 

That part of Middleborough, which is now the fir? 
precinct, was purchased of the Indian sachem, Wampa 
tuck, in March 1662, by " twenty-six men," and con- 
firmed by the government of the Plymouth colony, 
January, 1663, with some other purchases made of the 
" Black Sachem," Tispaquin, sachem of Namasket. The 
town was incorporated by its present boundaries, July 
1st, 1669, and afterwards fully confirmed by the court 
at Plymouth. From 1669 to 1675 the town sent depu- 
ties to the court. But in 1675 the Indian war broke 
up the settlement, and the purchasers returned to Plym- 
outh. In 1679 they returned to Middleborough with 
their minister. Rev. Samuel Fuller, and made a perma- 
nent settlement. In their re-organization they mention 
the loss of their records, when their houses were burnt 
by the Indians. 

The following are the names of the " twenty-six pur_ 
chasers '* who were here when the war broke out, and 
who probably returned after the war. Their minister 
was with them in 1675; and as he was one of the origi- 
nal purchasers, he was probably with them in their first 
settlement in 1669, as otherwise they would not proba- 
bly have been allowed to remove from Plymouth. The 
town is about 14 miles on its South line, about the same 
distance from that line to its north, — contains more than 
100 square miles, and is, in extent of territory, the 
largest town in the Commonwealth. 

JOHN THOMPSON, MOSES SIMMONS, 

ISAAC HOWLAND, SAMUEL BARROWS, 

FRANCIS COOMBS, SAMUEL EATON, 

SAMUEL FULLER, FRANCIS BILLINGTON. 

JOHN MORTON, GEORGE SOULE, 



NATHANIEL SOUTHWORTH, SAMUEL EDDY, 

EPHRAIM TINKIIAM, SAMUEL PRATT, 

HENRY WOOD, GEORGE VAUGHAN, 

WILLIAM NELSON, JOHN SHAW, 

DAVID THOMAS, JACOB THOMPSON. 

JOHN COBB, FRANCIS MILLER, 

JABEZ WARREN, JOHN HOWLAD, 

EDWARD BUMP, JOHN ALDEN. 

In 1680, the town provided a house lot, and twelve 
acres of land for Mr. Fuller, and it seems he then lived 
in a house upon it, which they call his. His salary was 
" c£20, to be paid one quarter in silver and the rest in 
produce, corn at two shillings, and wheat at four per 
bushel." The tradition is, that he lived in a house a 
little east of Dr. Sturtevant's. The town agreed " to turn 
out and fence his field, and every one that did not, was 
to pay a bushel of corn." The first meeting-house was 
between his house and '-the Green," and in August, 
1701, was sold at auction for £h 2s., the town having, 
the year before, built a meeting-house on the " Lower 
Green," nearly opposite the present school-house," thirty- 
six feet by thirty, and sixteen stud," as by vote of 
November, 1690. It had two ridge poles and four gable 
ends. In 1745 the roof was taken oiF, and a " pitched 
roof" put on. The meeting-house on the "Upper 
Green," was built the same year ; the parish having 
separated into two meetings ; one held by the " old lights," 
or " standing party," and the other by the " new lights," 
or " revival men." Of the " old lights," Rev. Thomas 
Weld, was pastor ; of the " new lights," Rev. Sylvanus 
Conant. The "old lights" broke up in the year 1754: 
or 1755, and soon after the old house was sold, and of 
the materials a dwelling-house was built wliere tlie pas- 
torage house now stands. The parish were again united 
and Mr. Conant was the acknowledged pastor of both 



" old lights" and " new lights." The site of the old house 
is now plainly to be seen just below the school-house. 
The house on the Upper Green was built by proprietors, 
and was sold in 1828, and the materials removed, but 
not until the dedication of the present meeting-house, 
January 1st, 1829. 

The church was organized, and Mr. Fuller ordained 
pastor, Dec. 26th, 1694. On Mr. Fuller's death, August 
17, 1695, Mr. Cushman, afterwards minister of Plympton, 
Mr. Clap and Mr. Cutting were successivly invited to 
supply the pulpit. In August, 1696, Mr. Thomas Palmer 
was applied to, and engaged to preach a quarter of a 
year, for which he was paid £13. In October, the town 
voted him £35 for a salary." In November, 1698, the 
town voted " that his goods shall be brought from Plym- 
outh at the town's charge," and he was probably ordained. 
May 2nd, 1702, (though possibly a year or two sooner,) 
not without strenuous opposition on the part of a num- 
ber of the members of the church. Committees were 
soon chosen by the town and by the church " to devise 
means of a regular, comfortable, and peaceable settle- 
ment." He was charged with misbehavior in the church 
and with intemperance. The first council was convened 
by the church exparte, and it condemned him ; the sec- 
ond, called by the town and the church, advised that, 
"as the town earnestly desired, both old and young to 
enjoy his ministry, he should continue his ministry until 
the council should meet more fully ;" and finally, twelve 
churches were convened, and advised the church to 
depose him. In 1705, his salary was £40. In 1706, the 
same, " provided he continue in the work of the minis- 
try the whole year ; if removed, to pay him proportion- 
ally." In November 1706, they voted ^'to seek out a 



man for the supply of the ministry." The records of the 
church are not extant, but the town voted, June 3d 
1707, to provide for the ministers and messengers that 
are to sit in council." December 12th, 1707, the select- 
men were authorized to agree with Mr. Peter Thacher for 
the work of the ministry for a quarter of a year. It 
would seem that Mr. Palmer had then stopped preach- 
ing, and that the council then advised his deposition. 
But the records of the church give the proceedings of 
the council precisely one year later. Mr. Thacher was 
ordained, November 2d, 1709, and his ministry contin- 
ued from this time until his death, in 1744. Mr. Palmer 
lived on the " Mory Place," which he owned, and prac- 
ticed physic, in town, until his death in 1743. 

It appears from the records, that although he did not 
preach through the year 1706, yet that he sued the parish 
for his salary, and recovered judgment for it up to the 
time when the council advised his dismission, to the 
amount of £62, but on settlement with the parish, con- 
sented to release £15 of the judgment. "Mr. Palmer 
preached a considerable time (after being rejected by 
the church,) in his own house, where he had a few hear- 
ers." [Mr. Baker's century sermon.] 

Extracts from the Church Records, June 2d, 1707 (1708?J 
" Voted, by the church of Middleborough, that, in pursuance of the 
advice of twelve churches, in council here convened, which have de- 
clared that Mr. Thomas Palmer, the former minister and pastor, ought 
to be removed from the work of the Gospel ministry, and suspended 
from communion at the Lord's table for his scandalous immoralities, — 
therefore, in conformity to said advice of said council, as also upon the 
advice of a convention of reverend ministers at Boston, the church doth 
now declare that they now look on Mr. Thomas Palmer as no longer 
their pastor, but as deposed from the work of the ministry, and also 
suspended from the table of the Lord ; and we withdraw from the said 



8 



Mr. Palmer, and unite in our endeavors to settle the ordinances of the 
Gospel among us." 

"November 13th, 1737. This day Mr. Thomas Palmer, the 
former pastor of this church, had the censure of the church taken off, 
and was restored to communion by unanimous vote of the church, after 
hearing his confession."* 

After the decease of Rev Mr. Thacher, the church again 
had " troublous times." The great revival had brought 
large numbers into the church. The resident male 
members were considerably above one hundred, and they 
desired to settle a minister who favored the revival. A 
respectable portion of the people, and deacon Barrows, 
with sixteen or seventeen male members of the church? 
wished to settle a different man. The church at first 
called the old pastor's son, Peter Thacher, but for reas- 
ons unknown, (said to be in order not to break with 
the minority,) they withdrew the call, and sent for Mr. 
Conant. He came in September, 1744, but the parish 
also sent for a candidate, and one preached in the fore- 
noon and the other in the afternoon ; after which the 
parish refused to permit Mr. Conant to preach in the 
meeting-house, and he preached in the Mansion house, 
by invitation of Madame Thacher, for several months. 
Although he was called in October, he was not ordained 
until March, and this took place in the yard or court in 
front of Madame Thacher's house. His friends then 



* An aged lady gives the following anecdote as illustrative of the character 
of the deposed pastor : — " Mr. Palmer, after his deposition, practiced physic, but kept 
no horse. His distant patients had to furnish him ; and when, one day, he returned 
from the west precinct, on his patient's horse, (that he might not be impounded on 
his way back) he tied up the bridle with these lines attached to it : — 

Don't take me up, but let me pass 

For I'm my master's faithful ass ; 

He Doctor Palmer lent me. 

Who rode me to his house. 

And gave me a pottle of oats, 

And home again he sent me." 



9 



went resolutely at work in building a meeting-house on 
the "Upper Green." It was raised July 17th, 1745, and 
was soon put into a condition to accommodate the meet- 
ings. In the meantime the parish had called a Mr. Weld 
to be their minister, and he was ordained in the old 
meeting-house, October 2d, of the same year. The 
church by their committee, Ezra Clap, Edmund Weston, 
and Samuel Eddy, sent into the council a strenuous pro- 
test against the proceeding. The parish and church had 
now a " hard business." A new meeting-house to build, 
the old meeting house to repair, and two ministers and 
two churches to sustain, and more than all, " crimina- 
tions and recriminations," and alienations among breth- 
ren — "old lights, and new lights" — "the church and 
the standing party." ^Ye have two printed pamphlets 
in which hard names and words are dealt freely against 
each other. A tax made by the parish against the 
new society, as well as the old, well nigh brought on 
open war, and add to these, a lawsuit about the records 
and the furniture of the Lord's table. This was finally 
adjusted, and the church chose Ebenezer Clap, Seth 
Tinkham, and Samuel Eddy to present a petition to 
the General Court for relief. This was April 22d, 1746. 
It seems they succeeded in getting a law passed, by 
which those who chose to worship in the new meeting 
house migrht file their names with the clerk of the 
old society, and so become members of the new ; and 
more than two hundred names were filed in 1748. In 
1754, another law was passed, by which both societies 
were again united under their former name, and that 
union has continued to the present time. 

The reputation of Mr. Conant, the pastor, has been 
very good. He was distinguished for his urbanity and 



10 



concilatory manners, and succeeded in a few years, in 
uniting the people in his favor. He was a lively, anima- 
ted preacher, and seems to have done all that any man 
could do in such times — times of war, French and revo- 
lutionary, stamp act, tea tax, Boston massacre, — every- 
thing to agitate the public mind. He was requested to 
accept the chaplaincy of a regiment, and the patriotism, 
not the tvill of his people, consented. He three times 
married, but left no children. It may well be asked 
what would have been the condition of our churches 
after the war, if they had not been prepared, by the 
great reformation, to meet the shock? The "sacra- 
mental host" were not all wasted by these wars and 
trials. Their venerable countenances and gray hairs are 
still remembered by some of us now living. 

Our church has since seen days of affliction ; but we 
cannot say with the patriarch, " few and evil have been 
our days." It is almost two centuries since the " seed 
of the kingdom" began to be sown here, and more than 
a century and a half since the visible kingdom was first 
established here — "a church built on a rock," as we 
trust. The "glorious things spoken" of this kingdom, 
have been many times seen here. The records of 1728 
and 1741-42, in what may be called ancient times, and 
those of 1808 and 1823, in our own time, are not soon 
to be forgotten ; nor are we to forget the other showers 
of divine grace in 1818, and in our present pastor's time. 
" Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in 
the morning." "The days of darkness are many," and in 
them we are to be humble and prayerful ; the days of light 
to the church are not a few, and we may well " rejoice 
and be glad in them," and remember them with cheerful- 
ness. If we are wise, we shall rise by repentance from 



11 



our baitings and backslidings, and get improvment and 
strength to " run the race set before us," with a more 
perfect heart, setting up our memorials as we advance, 
and girding up the loins of our minds to run with pa- 
tience the race which is yet before us. This church was 
very dear to the hearts of our brethren who have left 
us, and may it still be dear to us in all its interests ; 
may the worship and the ordinances here be maintained 
"as long as as the sun and the moon shall endure." 
<' Forgetting the things which are behind," may we " press 
forward to those things which are before" us, till we 
shall " attain to the measure of the stature of perfect men 
in Christ Jesus." 



THE CHURCH IS A LEGAL BODY. 

This church considers that it is under the protection of 
the laiv, in its proper action and its religous worship ; and 
not only so, but that it has legal rights, and that it is de- 
sirable that the members should know what its legal 
rights are. 

L " The people of God have a legal right to gather 
themselves into church state." Ancient Charters 100. 

n. They have free election of all their ofiicers. Id. 
101. '^' The churches shall be allowed to exercise and 
enjoy all their accustomed privileges, and those respect- 
ing church order, divine worship and discipline, and are 
to be encouraged therein. Id. 245. Const. 20. Rev. 
Statutes 201. 

HI. "Those who disturb them in their ivorship are 
guilty of a misdemeanor, and punishable by fine and im- 
prisonment." Anc. Ch. 104. Rev. Statutes. 741. So 
also disturbances in their church action — their elections. 
Anc. Charters 104. 



12 



IV. "Every church has free liberty of administration, 
recommendation, dismission, expulsion, and disposal of 
their officers and members, with free exercise of the dis- 
cipline and censurers of Christ, according to the tiiles 
of His loord. Anc. Charters, 101. 

V. " By the church, is meant those who are in full 
communion." Id. 114. 

Under this law, every member of a church, in full 
communion, old or young, male or female, has the right 
of voting in the church. But John Robinson, our eccle- 
siastical father, says the churches do not admit the sisters 
to take a part in the husiness matters of the church, as it 
is against the spirit of the directions of St. Paul in re- 
spect to them. But undoubtedly if a male of any age 
be admitted to full communion, he should be allowed to 
vote. Rev. Mr. Camp was a candidate here, after the 
decease of Mr. Conant, and a majority of the church 
voted for him. He insisted upon the sisters being called 
out and voting, and many of them did so, much to the 
offence of some of the brethren. He did not accept the 
call. They have been called once only since, but more 
than half refused, and no good came of the measure. 
It is to be hoped that we shall not again act against the 
advice of " the author of Congregationalism." 

The church, by their deacons, are a body politic, and 
may even bring actions. See Revised Statutes 202- 
"The deacons of the churches are a body corporate, 
authorized to hold the property of the church, to re- 
ceive all donations of land and personal estate, and to 
sue and defend in every case relating to such property." 
Anc. Charters 206. " The deacons are corporate bodies, 
for the purpose of taking and holding in succession, all 
grants and donations, whether of real or personal estate 



13 

made to them and successors, or to the poor of the 
churches." Id. 205. 

" The churches may call the deacons to account, and 
sue them." Id. 206. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH, 1694, [O.S.] 
The church records from the organization to the 
coming of the Rev. Peter Thacher, in 1708, are not 
known to be in existence, and are supposed to have 
been early lost to the church. Mr. Noah Bosworth, of 
Halifax, Mass., a descendent of the first pastor, in the 
sixth generation, providentially reading our present 
Articles of Faith and list of members printed in 1826, 
inferred that this church had no record of its first organi- 
zation. With a commendable thought and generosity he 
presented to this church an ancient copy made from the 
lost records. His letter ^ enclosing it, shows that great 
reliance may be placed upon it, as a true copy by 
Ebenezer Fuller, who commenced it with the following 
date and remark : 

" MiddleborougJi^ March 8, 1734. — A copy of the record of the 
First Church of Christ in Middleborough, which was written by 
Mr. Samuel Fuller, first pastor of that church." 

* " Looking over the records of the First Church in Middleborough, made out and 
printed for the information of its members into the history of said church, I noticed 
that there was no account of the formation of said church, or of the names of the first 
members of it ; and, having among the writings of my great grandfather, Ebenezer 
Fuller, a copy of the record of the first formation of said church and the Covenant they 
entered into, and the Articles of Faith, &c. ; and thinking, if that record was lost it 
would be gratifying to the present pastor and church to have so ancient a copy of said 
record, transcribed March 8, 1734, by one, with his own hand, who was a member of 
said church. 1 with pleasure forward the said copy to the said First Church in Middle- 
boro', with confidence that it is an authentic copy of the original record j as my great 
grandfather, Ebenezer Fuller, who copied and preserved it, doubtless for his own use, 
was the grandson of Rev. Samuel Fuller, the first pastor of said church. 

" Halifax, Sept. 5, 1826. "NOAH BOSWORTH." 

Note. — Mr. Bosworth died March 7, 1837, in advanced age. It is by his just view 
lof the appropriate disposition of such papers, that this church and community are in 
possession of an account of this transaction, and a knowledge of the original members 
of this church. 



u 

THE COPY OF EBENEZER FULLER, IN 1734. 

" I. Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God 
hath led thee these forty years. — Deut. 8 : 2. 

" December 26, 1794, [0. S.] — A church of Christ was gathered 
at Middleborough, formerly called by the heathen Namassacut, a 
fishing place, as some say. 

" The persons and their names that entered into church fellow- 
ship, some of them members of Plymouth church before, being dis- 
missed from Plymouth for that intent ; some of them members of 
other churches dwelling here then, and some that were never in 
church fellowship before that time, whose names are as followeth : 

" SAMUEL FULLER and his wife, JOHN BENNET and his wife, 

'• JONATHAN MORSE and his wife, ABIEL WOOD and his wife, 

" SAMUEL WOOD, ISAAC BILLINGTON, 

" SAMUEL EATON, SAMUEL CUTBURT, 

" JACOB TOMSON and his wife, JOHN COB, Jun., 

" HESTER TINKAM, The Widow DEBORAH BARDEN, 

"WEIBRAH BUMPAS, EBENEZER TINKHAM,— ^75 WIFE, 

" Not being present by reason of sickness in their family, 
yet after owning the covenant of the rest, being in the esteem 
of the rest, it is as well as if she were there present at that 
assembly.* 

"Ebenezer Tinkham, Isaac Billington, Jacob Tomson; these 
then baptized. 

" Soon after were baptized the children of John Cob in their 
infancy ; John, Martha. Patience. Also, Lidia Bumpas, the 
daughter of Weibra Bumpas. 

" II. In order to the gathering of a church, it pleased God, 
who hath the hearts of all men in his hands, to move upon the 
hearts of sundry of those to desire a church may be gathered in 
this place, — to desire and seek it of God ; and Divine Providence 
made way for it. 

" Letters were sent for ministers and brethren to assist in the 
work, namely : to Plymouth, Sandwich and Barnstable : and the 
Elders sent Mr. John Cotton, Mr. Rouland Cotton, Mr. Jonathan 
Russell, and brethren to assist them. Mr. Samuel Fuller, then 

• For names and other particulars of the original members see Descriptive Catalogue. 



15 

ordained to be a Teacher to that church ; who had lived there and 
preached the word amongst them, whose preaching God had made 
beneficial to divers of them, and made choice of by mutual consent. 
God can, and oft doth, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings 
ordain praise. 

" John Bennet, Sen., our brother, ordained Deacon, — Deacon 
in the church of Middleborough, March 10, being the second Sab- 
bath in that month, and chosen by a full consent to that office some 
considerable time before ; who formerly dwelt at Beverly ; whom 
God in the way of his providence sent to dwell in Middleborough to 
be serviceable there in church and town." 



" ARTICLES OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH,* 

" Then also read, owned and acknowledged by us at the church 
gathering. 

" We do believe with our hearts and confess with our mouths : 

" I. That the Holy Scriptures, contained in the Old and New 
Testaments, are the word of God, and are given by inspiration of 
God, to be the rule of faith and life. 

" 11. That there is but one only living and true God, and that in 
the unity of the Godhead there be three persons of one substance, 
power and eternity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the 
Holy Ghost. 

" III. That this one God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, made the 
whole world and all things therein, in the space of six days, very 
good. 

" IV. That God made man after his own image in knowledge, 
righteousness, and true holiness. 

" V. That our first parents being seduced by the subtilty of 
Satan, eating the forbidden fruit, sinned against God, and fell from 
the estate wherein they were created ; and that all mankind de- 
scending from them by ordinary generation, sinned in and fell with 
them in their first transgression, and so were brought into a state ot 
sin and misery, losing communion with God, and faUing under his 
wrath and curse. 



* These Articles were printed in 1722, and reprinted in 1771 ; and are also in the 
Fuller copy of 1734, but are not on the existing Church Records. 



16 

" VI. That God, in his eternal purpose, chose and ordained the 
Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the one and only mediator 
between God and man, the Prophet, Priest and King, the head and 
Savior of his church. 

" VII. That Jesus Christ, the second person in the Trinity, is 
the very and eternal God, of one substance, and equal with the 
Father ; and that when the fulness of time was come, the Son of 
God, the second person in the Trinity, took upon him man's nature, 
being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of 
the Virgin Mary, of her substance, so that the Godhead and man- 
hood were joined together in one person, which is very God and 
very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man. 

"VIII. The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of 
himself upon the cross, hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father, 
and purchased, not only a reconciliation with God, but an everlasting 
inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father 
hath given to him. 

" IX. That the elect of God are made partakers of the redemp- 
tion purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to their 
souls by his word and Spirit. 

" X. That justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, 
in which he pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their 
persons righteous in his sight, not for any thing wrought in them or 
done by them ; but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfac- 
tion of Christ imputed to them by God, and received by faith alone. 

" XI. That sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby the 
elect are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are 
enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness. 

" XII. That whomsoever God hath accepted in Jesus Christ, 
effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally 
nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly per. 
severe to the end, and be eternally saved. 

" XIII. That the grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to 
believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ 
in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the 
word, by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments 
BXid prai/er, it is increased and strengthened. 



17 

" XIV. That the visible church under the Gospel is not confined 
to one nation, as it was under the law, but consists of all those 
throughout the world that profess the true religion according to the 
Gospel order, and their children ; and is the kingdom of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, the house and family of God ; and that unto this church 
Christ hath given the ministry, grace and ordinances of God, for 
the gathering and perfecting of saints to the end of the world ; and 
doth by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make 
them effectual thereunto. 

" XV. That prayer, singing of psalms and reading of the Scrip- 
tures, the sound preaching and conscionable hearing of the word, 
as also the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacra- 
ments instituted by Christ, namely Baptism and the Lord's Supper, 
and all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God, besides solemn 
fastings and thanksgiving, upon special occasions, which are in their 
several times and seasons, to be used in a holy and religious manner. 

" XVI. That the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the alone head of his 
church, hath appointed officers in his house for the regular carrying 
on of the affairs of his kingdom ; and that each particular church 
hath power from Christ regularly to administer censures to offending 
members, and to carry on the affairs of his visible kingdom accord- 
ing to his word. 

" XVII. That the bodies of men, after death, turn to dust and 
see corruption, but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having 
an immortal substance, immediately return to God who gave them ; 
the souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are 
received into heaven, and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell. 

" XVIII. That the bodies of the just and unjust shall be raised 
at the last day. 

" XIX. That God has appointed a day wherein he will judge the 
world in righteousness by Jesus Christ ; in which day, all persons 
that have lived upon earth shall appear before the judgment seat of 
Christ, to give account of their thoughts, words and deeds, and to 
receive according to what they have done in the body, whether it 
be good or evil." 



18 

"THE CHURCH COVENANT, 

That was read and consented to at the church gather- 
ing:— 

" Forasmuch as it hath pleased God, who hath commanded us to 
pray daily, that his kingdom may come and be advanced, and hath 
given direction, in his holy word, and manifold encouragements to 
his poor servants to seek and set forward his worship and the con- 
cernments of his glory ; we do, therefore, personally present our- 
selves this day in the holy presence of God, to transact with Him 
this great affair of His kingdom and glory, and of our own salva- 
tion ; and humbling ourselves before the Lord for all our sins, and 
the sins of ours, earnestly praying for pardoning mercy and recon- 
ciliation with God through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
for the gracious presence and assistance of his Holy Spirit, under 
a deep sense of our own weakness and unworthiness, and with an 
humble confidence of his favorable acceptation ; each of us for our- 
selves, and all of us jointly together, enter into a holy covenant with 
God and one with another, that is to say^ — We do, according to the 
terms and tenor of the everlasting covenant, first, give up ourselves 
and our off'spring unto the Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
as the one only true and living God, All-sufficient, and our God, in 
covenant ; and unto our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, 
our Prophet, Priest, and King ; the only mediator of the covenant 
of grace ; promising and covenanting, through the help of His 
grace, to cleave to God and to our Lord Jesus by faith, in a way 
of Gospel obedience, with full purpose of heart, as his covenant 
people, forever : And we do also, by this act of confederation, give 
up ourselves, one unto another in the Lord, according to the will of 
God, promising and engaging to cleave and walk together in holy 
union and communion as members of the same mystical body, and 
as an instituted church of Christ, rightly instituted and established 
in the true faith and order of the Gospel ; further, obliging our- 
selves, by this our holy covenant, to keep and maintain the holy 
word and worship of God committed to us, and endeavor faithfully 
to transmit it to our posterity, to cleave unto and uphold the true 
Gospel ministry as it is established by Jesus Christ in his church, 
to have it in due honor and esteem for the work's sake ; to subject 



19 

ourselves fully and sincerely unto the ministerial exercise of the 
power of Christ in the dispensation of the word, the administration 
of the sacraments, — the Lord's Supper to members in full communion 
and without offence, and Baptism to visible church members and their 
infant seed, — as also for the due application of the holy discipline, 
with love, care and faithfulness ; watching one over another, and 
over the children of the covenant growing up with us ; and all in 
obedience to the blessed rule and government of our Lord Jesus 
Christy the alone head of his church : and withal we further engage 
ourselves to walk orderly in a way of fellowship and communion 
with all neighbor churches, according to the rules of the Gospel, 
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be one throughout all the 
churches, to the glory of God the Father. This, our holy church 
covenant, we do, in most solemn manner, take upon our souls, in all 
the parts of it, with full purpose of heart, as the Lord shall help us, 
and according to the measure of grace received, we will walk before 
and with God fully, steadfastly and constantly in the discharge 
of all covenant duties, each to other ; and the Lord keep this forever 
in the thoughts and imagination of the hearts of us, his poor 
servants, to establish our hearts unto Him ; and the good Lord 
pardon every one of us that prepareth his heart to seek the Lord 
God of his fathers. Amen." 



RENEWAL OF COVENANT, 1713. 

At a church meeting early in January, 1713, (N. S.,) 
the members expressed a mutual forgiveness toward one 
another, and friendship for their pastor ; and, having 
decided on a solemn Renewal of Covenant, agreed to 
observe a day of fasting and prayer. At another meet- 
ing in the same month at Mr. Thacher's dwelling, his 
record says : " On the forenoon I preached from Jer. 50 : 
5. The afternoon began with prayer, and then I read 
the Covenant and expounded it to them in particular." 
" The children of the church were called on to come and 
own and to improve their privilege in God's covenant." 
" April 3, 1713, (he records.) was the day appointed for 



20 

public fasting and Renewal of Covenant by entering 
into new engagements to the Lord and one another. 
My father Thacher, [Rev. Peter Thacher, of Milton 
Mass.,] was present and began with prayer. I preached 
from Rev. 2:10. In the afternoon, after prayer, the 
church gave their renewed assent to the following holy 
covenant." 

The Covenant here referred to, was the original one 
of 1694 ; and the following Achiowlcdgments, called an 
"explication of the Covenant," and doubtless prepared 
for the occasion, were adopted at this time and entered 
on the church records in connection with the Covenant. 

'■'■ April 3, 1713. — We, that through God's goodness have been 
gathered, and are still continued a church of His, having here- 
tofore consented to the covenant of grace, according to the gracious 
terras thereof; having made choice of the Lord Jehovah, Father, 
Son, and Holy Spirit, as our God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, as 
the glorious mediator, upon whose fulness of merit and power we 
rely, as well to be strengthened to the duties, as to enjoy the bless- 
ings of that well ordered covenant ; having according to his will, 
incorporated ourselves into that evangelical church-state, wherein 
our desires after the mercies of that covenant are to be expressed 
and answered ; being sensible that our justification by faith in the 
righteousness of Christ, as of our only surety, doth oblige us to keep 
all God's commands, as holy, just and good : being also awakened 
by the heavy judgments impending over our nation and country ; 
would search our hearts after what might be in us provoking to 
God ; acknowledging it to be our duty, not only to walk circum- 
spectly, respecting gross sins and miscarriages, but would also guard 
ao^ainst prevailing corruptions that often prevail among the people 
of God ; especially, to renew our engagements which are laid on us 
by the covenant of God, which hath been not only accepted, but 
renewed, and is hereby renewed and expressed. 

"WE THEN ACKNOWLEDGE, 

" I. TJtat it loould he a great evil in us, If eur love to the world 
should make us abate of our love to communion with God, or abate 



21 

of that zeal and watchfulness which we slioiihl always keep alive in 
our souls, or hinder us from the most affectionate reading of his 
■word, and seeking his face every day in our houses, or from daily 
use of closet supplication and meditation. 

" II. It tvould be a cp'eat evil in us, If we should [not], on the one 
hand, protest against any thing in the worship and service of God 
for which we have not a divine institution, and against the use of 
all pagan, papal superstitions : if we should not on the other side, 
to the best of our capacities, attend and support the institutions of 
God in the midst of us, with endeavors that there be nothing want- 
ing thereto. 

" III. It would be a great evil in us, If when we draw near 
to God in his ordinances, we should allow ourselves to be formal, 
carnal or sleepy in what we do ; or if we should come to tlie Lord's 
table without due examinations and humiliations and supplications 
preparatory thereto ; or, if in managing church discipline, we should 
vent our own passions or serve our own humors. 

" IV. It would be a great evil in us. If we should abuse the 
good creatures of God by sensualities, in eating or drinking, or 
recreations, or by extravagancy in apparel, or in the irreverend use 
of God's names, titles, attributes, word or ordinances. 

" V. It ivould be a great evil in ms, If we should not keep a 
strict guard over our thoughts, as well as words and works on the 
Sabbath ; and also, on all under our influence, to restrain them from 
violations of that sacred rest. 

" VI. It would be a great evil in us, If we should not study to 
have our families well instructed and governed, and in such a con- 
dition as is agreeable to the fear of God, 

*' VII. It would be a great evil in us, If by the prevalency of 
a private spirit we should be backward to any public service where- 
by God might call us with our persons or estates to serve our gen- 
erations^ or if we should by unjust neglect or censure, ill requite 
such as have been serviceable to us, which are the ministers of God 
to us for good. 

" VIII. It would be a great evil in us, If we should fail of a pa- 
tient, peaceable, forgiving temper, towards our neighbors, or if we 
should not with meekness of wisdom smother all causes of contention. 

" IX. It would be a great evil in us, If we should spend our days 



22 

in idleness^ and not be diligent in such employments as may adorti 
the doctrine of God, by rendering us useful to our neighbors. 

" X. It v)ould he a great evil in us, If our carriage or discourse! 
should any ways savour of a lascivious disposition in our souls. 

"XL It ivould he a great evil in us, If we should use dishonesty 
in our dealings, by fraud, force, or unreasonable exactions. 

" XII. It Would be a great evil in us, If we shouldjgo maliciously 
to make, or injuriously to spread any false reports, or too easily re- 
ceive slanders against the innocent, or countenance the broachers of 
them. 

" XIII. It would he a great evil in us, If we should not consci^ 
entiously observe and fulfil what promises we lawfully give one 
another. 

" XIV. It would he a great evil in us, If we should be discon-^ 
tented with others' prosperity, or our own adversity, wherein we are 
confined. 

" XV. It would he a great evil in us, If we should not be ready 
charitably and liberally to relieve the necessities of the poor that call 
for our bounties." 

" XVI. It ivould he a great et)il in us, If we should not with a 
brotherly affection, either give or take reproofs where there is cause 
for them^ or if we should withhold our testimony against whatever 
might fall out among ourselves displeasing to God. 

" Wherefore, we do, by solemn vote, declare against all these 
evils as abominable things, utterly dispairing of any strength in our^ 
selves to keep clear thereof ; we do most humbly ask the all-suffi- 
cient grace of God in Christ, that neither these, nor any other in- 
iquities may have any dominion over us, but that we watch against 
them all, both in ourselves and in one another.^' 

" 31archl2, 1713. — The above written explication of our holy 
church Covenant was read privately in the church, and assented to 
by vote. April 3, 1713, it was also read in pubUc, and assented to 
expressedly. "PETER THACHER, Paseor." 



23 

PASTORAL FIDELITY. 

The following original letter of Mr. Thacher, to a 
(church member who had abruptly turned away from 
the Lord's table, is characteristic equally of the writer 
and of the times : — 

" MiDDLEBORO', Feb. 4, 1740-41. 
" Brother Smith : 

" Such hath been my infirmitys, and such the season, as hath 
diverted my loving purposes and sincere desires to visit you, and if 
possible be so happy as to recover you to a sense of your sin, in 
turning away from Wisdom's furnished Table and bidden Guests i 
Alas my brother, why have you done this ? This action is highly 
and greatly aggravated. I know of no Gospel ru]e that gives any 
countenance to such a breach of order, and breach of covenant with 
God, and with the church. Is it not practically to say that 
there was nothing in that holy Institution worth staying for ? That 
you were at your liberty to come to it, or stay from, as you pleased 'i 

" How could you pour more open and high contempt upon one of 
Christ's most solemn and soul-endearing, and strengthening institu- 
tions ? Had you then, or now, assurance of having [even] one more 
such an heart-melting and quickening opportunity ? Have they 
been such empty and fruitless opportunities to your soul, as induced 
you to turn away so lightly ? I hope not. What could be the rea- 
son ? W-as it offence with myself or any other communicant ? 
Matt. 18th, directly your duty in that case. But surely, every one's 
most important concern is with his own heart. If it was your offence 
with the church in general, or any act of theirs, will you withdraw 
communion from them, censure yourself, and break covenant with 
themj before you in writing remonstrated to them their error and 
your own doubt ? Ought you not to have done this before you 
had, in such a manner, disquieted every one that stayed ? Is this 
to eat the Lord's Supper, to pay suitable and thankful reverence to 
that which was purchased with Christ's blood, yea, and shows forth 
his death too ? Dear brother, you must have wrong notions of the 
terms of communion, if you are not heartily and deeply humbled for 
this inadvertent act of yours, that so deeply wounds your own soul, 



24 



your pastor's, and the whole church, and greatly dishonours God 
and tends to bring the church of Christ and that ordinance of 
Christ into the greatest contempt in the eyes of them without. Dear 
brother, do I thus speak because I love you not ? Godknoweth, — 
but that I may be found faithful to Christ, my office, and your dear 
precious soul. I beseech you by the kindness and gentleness of 
Christ, that you would be moved, be persuaded, be overcome by 
one who you know loves you, and hath your salvation at heart, to be 
sensible of your fault, to acknowledge it to God, and to condemn it 
before your brethren. Why will you be instrumental to bring down 
my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave, and hasten a period to that 
ministry you have been many years delighted in ? 

" I am yet your loving, though grieved pastor, 

" PETER TEACHER." 



MUTUAL CONFESSION. 

The following document is found in the hand writing 
of Rev. Mr. Thacher, and signed by the members of the 
church : — 

" We, the subscribers, members of the First Church of 
Christ in Middleborough, at a meeting, this 10th day of 
April, 1738, to enquire and resolve to our Rev. Pastor, 
and one another, whether we are in suitable frames to 
communicate at the Lord's table together, and whether 
we advise it proper for our Rev. Pastor to administer 
to us under the general and visible decay of brotherly 
love among us ; do freely and humbly acknowledge, and 
have reason to do it with trembling, grief, and fear, that 
there is too evident tokens of our want of love, and want 
of peace, not only in this precinct, but also, even among 
the members of this church. We desire to mourn for these 
our sensible divisions. We acknowledge our want of 
zeal for the interests of Christ, and the discipline 
of Christ among us ; that we have been no more united 



25 



to discountenance vice in ourselves and others, as by 
covenant we have expressly obliged ourselves to do; 
and also, that we have been too much estranged our- 
selves, one from another ; our want of zeal for the honor 
of God's house and worship ; do, by these presents, 
severally, each one for himself, judge and condemn our- 
selves herein, and sincerely ask the forgiveness of God 
and our brethren, and declare by our hands hereto 
affixed, our sincere forgiveness of each other, and our 
hearty reconciliation and re-union in all the affairs of 
Christ's interest, worship, discipline and glory, earnestly 
begging grace from God to walk together from this time 
more as becomes the disciples and followers of the God 
of love than ever before we have done, desiring to be 
mutual helpers of each other, and especially comforts to 
our pastor ; and that, for time to come, we will pray 
and labor for such a unity, as may render us terrible as 
an army with banners, united to pull down, and in all 
suitable ways to bear testimony against all sin and 
wickedness, and to watch against all occasions and 
temptations to contention, and to mark them who would 
estrange us one from another, and to have no fellowship 
with them. 

Under a sense of these obligations we desire to come 
to the table of our Lord, and into his presence at his 
table, and there to seal before his immediate presence 
what we hereunto set our hands, humbly imploring the 
grace of Christ to be there abundantly shed forth on 
ourselves and each other, and desire that our pastor 
would lead us thither. 

HENRY THOMAS, NATHAN CLARK, JAMES RAYMOND, 

LEMUEL DUNHAM, BENJAMIN TUCKER, SAM'L BARROWS, JR., 

SAMUEL BARROWS, FRANCIS EATON, EDMUND WESTON, 

OBADIAH SAMPSON, HEZK'A PURKINGTON, BARN'BAS CROSSMAN 

SETH TINKHAM, COOMBS BARROWS, SAMUEL EDDY, 

4 



26 



EBENEZER REDDING, 
EPHRAIM WOOD, 
ICHABOD PADDOCK, 
SAMUEL WARREN, 
NEHEMIAH BENNET, 
THOMAS TUPPER, 
SAMUEL EDDY, JR., 
SAMUEL WOOD, 
EBENEZER FINNEY, 



BENJAMIN WHITE, 
JONATHAN SMITH, 
JOHN CA VENDER, 
JAMES SMITH, 
EZRA CLAP, 
DAVID ALDEN, 
JOSEPH BATES, 
NOAH THOMAS, 



THOMAS WOOD, 
SAMUEL SAMPSON, 
JOHN RAYMOND, 
DAVID DELANO, 
JOHN VAUGHAN, 
ICHABOD TUPPER, 
NATHAN BASSETT, 
MOSES STURTEVANT. 



ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCH. 



There have been, during our history, several consider- 
able revivals in our church and parish, and the records 
show corresponding additions to the church. In 1729, 
June 13, Mr. Thacher notes on the records " one hun- 
dred and seven or eight communicated at the sacrament 
this day," the additions having been chiefly the preceed- 
ing year. In 1740-42, being the time of the "great 
awakening" throughout New England, after a revival 
here, very deep and powerful, an account of which has 
been given and distributed among our people, one 
hundred and fifty or more were added to the church. 
Also, in 1807, 1808, the preaching of the Rev. James 
Davis, in the absence of Mr. Barker at Washington, 
appeared to be blessed. A great religious attention was 
realized, and about one hundred hopeful converts were 
admitted into the church. In 1818 and 1823 also, the 
records then show additions to the church, after special 
seasons of revival in those years. There was also a con- 
siderable revival revival in 1830, and also in 1840, some 
of the fruits of which appear in the list of members for 
these and subsequent years. 



27 



The additions to the church during the ministry of 
our respective pastors, have been as follows : 

Original Members, 20 

In Rev. Mr. Thacher's ministry about . . . , 466 

« Mr. Conant's « 86 

" Mr. Barker's '' 247 

« Mr. Paine's to settlement of Mr. Eaton, 72 

« Mr. Eaton's, 61 

« Mr. Putnam's, 128 

Uncertain, 7 

1087 
We have no record of the additions in the ministry of 
Mr. Palmer, or Mr. Fuller. 



SINGING. 

It appears from the records of the parish and of the 
church, that the choristers were chosen by the church, 
and that their choice was usually concurred in by the 
parish. Here is one of their votes : — " The easterly 
precinct of Middleborough, Sept. 18, 1732, voted, in 
reference to the singing of psalms in the congregation, 
that the precinct concur with the church so far as to 
appoint their pastor, Mr. Thacher, to set the tunes of the 
psalms in the time of public worship, so long as he shall 
find it for the peace and satisfaction of the church and 
congregation." Since in our day the singers, as a choir, 
have managed the singing themselves and chosen their 
own choristers. Once the parish and church voted 
against the introduction of musical instruments, but of 
late years no order has been taken in the church or 
society on the subject, and the singers bring in such 
instruments as they think proper, and appoint their own 
choristers. 



28 



PASTORAL POWER. 

As a specimen of manners, one hundred and fifty 
years ago, it may be mentioned that Dr. Palmer was 
much and late at the tavern ; and when he left for home 
quite late on one occasion, some person met him near 
the door and " drubbed him soundly with a cane." It 
was soon generally known, and considered to be well 
deserved, and that such a mode of correction was very 
proper, and Mr. Thacher was much commended as an 
energetic corrector of morals. It seems to have been 
taken for granted that he administered the correction, 
and that he was the proper person to administer it. 



THE ORDER OF THE CHURCH. 

The order of the church from its beginning has been, 
and continues to be, strictly Congregational, in accord- 
ance with the platform of John Robinson, and the 
practice and discipline of the churches of the Pilgrims ; 
the prominent features of which are, self-government, 
independence, open communion and free toleration. 
We choose our own ofl&cers, and depose them when 
there is just cause, receive, dismiss, and excommunicate 
members by vote of the whole church, yet not without 
advice of neighbor churches when it is desired by the 
pastor and brethren ; never, however, regarding such 
advice as authoritative. We esteem the government of 
the church to be wholly of a moral and not of a 
coercive character. No pastor or elder has ever inter- 
posed to control or embarrass the action of this church. 



29 



We have had no hostility against other churches. We 
have never, as a church, refused occasional communion 
with members of other churches of good standing, nor 
have we refused to dismiss a member to another church 
when such member has desired it for better edification. 
We do not censure for mere opinion; advocacy of 
heresy and immorality are subjects for disciplinary 
action, but the first and second private interviews are to 
be had before the offence is told to the church. We 
claim to be built upon the testimonies of the prophets 
and the apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief corner 
stone. Our articles of faith are instruments used to 
ascertain that the members all agree, but delinquents 
are to be tried by the Bible and its truths ; and although 
every body is allowed to read the Scripturs and inter- 
pret them for himself, yet in trials for heresy, the inter- 
pretation of the church must prevail. 

We have never had any Ruling Elders in this church. 
There is not much in a name. We have a standing com- 
mittee to advise and act in all cases in which such 
offices were, by the platform, authorised to act. It was 
a decided principle of Robinson that the Elders should 
advise, but not rule without the consent of the church, 
and this principle is, that in which Congregationalism 
chiefly differs from Presbyterianism. 

The church has an annual meeting for business on the 
last Friday of every returning January, when the Stand- 
ing Committee and Treasurer are to be chosen, and also 
committees to advise in respect to the public charities, 
and who also are to take the responsibility of the 
religious meeting in their districts. But any matters 
relating to the duty or welfare of the church are also 
attended to at that meeting. 



30 



Although the deacons, by law and usage, are the 
treasurers of the church, we have a special treasurer to 
receive the small contributions which the exigencies of 
church state require ; but the treasurer makes no dis- 
bursment without the direction of the church or the 
advice of the deacons or pastor or both. 

The church considers it to be the duty of every 
several member of the church to ^'lay by," as God 
prospers him, and according to his ability, (of which he 
is expected to judge carefully and conscienciously,) for 
church purposes, the support of the pastor and the 
Lord's table, and also for such objects of general benev- 
olence as the church shall, from time to time advise, the 
manner of the collections all to be under the advice of 
the committees. 

Contributions to the Board of Foreign Missions have 
always, since its establishment, been taken up in this 
church, either by collections in the meeting-house, or by 
collectors appointed to visit the people, and also at the 
district meetings as monthly concerts. 

The concerts are to be held on the first Monday of 
every month, but may be held a day before or after 
when notice to that effect shall be given from the pulpit, 
and collections are always taken at these meetings. 

The sacrament of the Supper is administered on the 
first Sabbath of every second month, beginning in 
January ; and at the close of the communion service a 
collection is taken for the support of the table, and such 
other calls as may be responded to by the church as a 
body. The standing committee will, as far as practica- 
ble, visit such persons among us as have religious hopes, 
with a view of their becoming candidates for admission 
to the church, but more especially they will be present 



31 



at the parsonage house on Friday, two weeks preceding 
the sacrament, to converse with those who are candidates 
for admission. If approved, the candidates are to be 
propounded two weeks before reception to the com- 
munion. The lecture preparatory to the sacrament is 
preached in the vestry on Friday before the sacrament. 

Members who change their residence and settle in dis- 
tant places are to take letters testimonial and unite with 
some church where they reside ; and members of other 
churches coming to reside with us are expected to bring 
letters testimonial from their churches, with a view of 
uniting with this church ; and on presenting such letters 
they are to be admitted as members by vote, and a copy 
"of the Book of the Church" is to be given them for 
their information before admission. By Congregational 
usage, letters testimonial are discredited, in case of 
change of residence, if not presented within a year from 
the time of such change. This church admits the right 
of every church member of good standing to claim such 
letters when he conscienciously believes that he can be 
better edified in another church j and good standing is 
to be implied if nothing appears on the records of the 
church to the contrary. 

It appears by the records of the church that, after 
the early deacons were chosen, there was a solemn in- 
duction of them into the office by ordination. Such has 
not been the modern practice ; and this church con- 
siders that ordination, or the laying on of hands with 
prayer, though a very proper, and sometimes a very im- 
pressive ceremony, and of apostolic example, is yet not a 
divine institution, not commanded, and may lose its 
solemnity by being made too common. In the case of 
the choice of pastor, the church thinks it should not be 



32 



dispensed with, not only the primitive example, but the 
manifest solemnity and good effects should cause it to 
have a place in the order of Christ's house. 

This church considers that our order requires that the 
pastors, on becoming such respectively, are to be subject 
to the discipline and watch of the church, and before 
ordination are to be admitted into full communion ; and 
such has been the usage of this church, although the 
records do not always show that it was done. Mr. 
Fuller's admission is recorded, and the restoration of 
Mr. Palmer shows that he had before been a member ; 
that Mr. Thacher was also a member is clear from the 
baptism of his children before his wife became a member. 
It is recollected, if not recorded, that all our ministers, 
for seventy years past, were so admitted, and all the ten 
ministers who belonged to this church, on their settle- 
ment, had recommendations to become members of the 
church over which they were ordained pastors. John 
Cotton writes that he was present at the ordination of 
Mr. Conant, and that he was received into the church 
before he was ordained. 



PASTORS. 

1. Samuel Fuller. — Mr. Fuller "was educated for 
the ministry, and came in with the first settlers of the 
town as a religious teacher, as well as one of the twenty- 
six purchasers." The Plymouth church did not permit 
its members to remove unless provision was made for 
their religious instruction. Having had his house burnt 
by the Indians, as the other settlers had, he returned to 



Plymouth with them till the war ended, and then re- 
turned with them to Middleborongh, and continued his 
ministry till a church was gathered, and soon after died. 
His whole ministry must have exceeded twenty years. 
The tradition is, that he was a sober, grave, industrious, 
enlightened, and self-denying minister. He was buried 
on " the Hill," the burial ground provided by the pro- 
prietors at the first location of the proprietary, and the 
legal title to the land is still in them. But the town and 
proprietary were so nearly identical that their proceed- 
ings are recorded in the same book. The following 
inscription is on the stone set at his grave : — 

" Here lyes buried y body of y^ Rev. Samuel Fuller, 
who departed this life Aug. y^ 17% 1694, in y^ 71" year 
of his age. He was y^ 1'' minister of y* Church of 
Christ in Middleborough." 

Mr. Fuller was the son of the pilgrim, Samuel Fuller, 
a celebrated surgeon and physician, to whom both the 
Pilgrims and Planters of Massachusetts were much 
indebted for his success in treating the diseases of the 
new settlements. He died in 1633, and his will is 
recorded with the " Old Colony Records," and printed in 
the Genealogical Register, Vol, 4, p. 33. In this he 
orders certain of his estates to be sold and the proceeds 
to be applied to the education of his two children, 
Samuel and Mercy, and another portion he devises to 
Roger Williams, " if he would accept the same, having 
heretofore once declined to accept it." The New England 
Memorial says, " He was deacon of the church, and for- 
ward to do good in his place, and much missed after God 
removed him out of the world." 
5 



34 



The children of Rev. Mr. Fuller were Samuel, b. 1659^ 
Mercy, Experience, Elizabeth, Hannah, John, and Isaac. 
Samuel settled on a paternal estate in Rocky Nook, 
Kingston, where are still some of his descendants. Mercy 
married Daniel Cole ; Experience, James W ood ; Eliza- 
beth, Samuel Eaton, and Hannah, Eleazer Lewis. John 
and Isaac settled in what is now Halifax, then Middle- 
borough, where there are numerous descendants. 



THOMAS PALMER. 

He is supposed to have been a native of Plymouth, 
and brother of William Palmer of that place, as the town 
voted to pay for the removal of his goods from Ply- 
mouth to Middleborough. There was much opposition 
to his settlement, and at last, they of the opposition, 
seem to have been taken by surprise, when, after several 
years preaching, he was ordained in May 2, 1 702. The 
opposition continued, and council after council was held, 
until his deposition was advised as has been stated. He 
seems to have been a rash, headstrong man, and the 
charges of intemperance made against him seem to have 
been well sustained. Having been restored to the 
church, as has been mentioned, it is pleasing to have 
ground for hope that he died a good man. He had a 
numerous family, the most of whom died young. " The 
Morey estate " descended from him to the daughter who 
married a Cheney, and from her to Mrs. Morey. He 
lived upon it all his life. The house was a kind of gar- 
rison, and built like the old meeting-house with " two 
ridge poles and four gable ends." 

His children were Thomas, who died, aged 24 ; Zuri- 



35 



shadai, died aged 18, 1719 ; Sarai, died at 2 ; Job, died at 
25 ; John, died 1709. Samuel was pastor of the church 
in Falmouth. Elizabeth married Cheney. James in- 
herited a large estate south of Plymouth road, near W. 
S. Eddy's, which he greatly embarrassed by his negli- 
gence as collector in the time of the troubles, when the 
" Old Lights " asspssed a great tax and compelled James 
to pay it, though he could not collect it. His two sons, 
James and Zurishadai, sold the old estate and removed 
to Vermont. 

There is a stone at his grave in the parish burial 
ground, and another loose one in the wall. That in the 
wall has this inscription : 

" All ye that pass along this way, 
Kemember still your dying day, 
Here's human bodies out of sight, 

Whose souls to have took their flight, 

And shall again united be 
In their doomed eternity." 

It is not known why there were two. The memento 
is the same on each. " Dr. Thomas Palmer who died, 
June 17, 1743, aged 70." His wife Elizabeth, died April 
17, 1740, aged 64. 



REV. PETER THACHER. 

A tract has been printed by the church, and distribu- 
ted in the parish, which gives a very full account of this 
venerable "man of God." He was born, October 6, 
1688, in Milton; his father, of the same name, being the 
pastor of the church there, and his grandfather, Thomas, 
minister in the Old South Church in Boston, and his 



36 



great grandfather, Peter, a Puritan minister in Salisbury, 
England. He graduated at Harvard College in 1706. 
He began his ministry here in September, 1707, and was 
chosen pastor, June 30, 1708, before he was 20 years of 
age, and after arriving to 21, was ordained, Nov. 2, 1709. 
January 25, 1711, he married Mary, daughter of 
Samuel Prince, Esq., then of Kochester, and sister of the 
Rev. Mr. Prince, of the Old South Church, Boston, and 
by her had ten children, nearly all of whom became 
members of the Church. One of his daughters, Mary, 
married Nathaniel Foster, and some of her descendants 
are settled here ; two of the children died here, and the 
others all removed. Mr. Thacher had an excellent 
library, was a hard student, a laborious pastor, and a 
sound preacher. He died April 22, 1744, and was 
entombed, as was afterwards Madam Thacher and 
Samuel Thacher, his son, in a family tomb in the parish 
burial ground. The house in which Mr. Thacher lived 
was burnt February 3, 1780. The names of his children 
were Peter, Oxenbridge, Samuel, John, Thomas, Mary, 
Susannah, Mercy, Thedora, and Moses. Peter was forty 
years pastor of the church in Attleborough, useful and 
beloved. Mary married Nathaniel Foster, and Susan- 
nah married Samuel Tucker, of Milton ; Mary married 
Rev. Mr. Shore, of Southbridge. Madam Thacher was a 
grave, intelligent, and exemplary matron, for many 
years a great help to the church, and lived to a good 
old age. She died 1771, aged 84. 

REV. SYLVANUS CONANT. 

He was a descendant of the celebrated Roger Conant, 
who was with the Plymouth Pilgrims in 1623, and 



37 



removed to Salem. lie was born in 1720, and gradua- 
ted in 1740 at Harvard College. He was the son of Lot 
Conant, the son of Nathaniel, who came from Beverly 
and settled in Bridgewater before 1690. He began his 
ministry here September 9, 1744, was called to be pas- 
tor October 1, of the same year, and was ordained 
March 28, 1745. He continued his ministry, at first, at 
the house of Madam Thacher, and after the new meet- 
ing-house was built, (which was the same year,) in that 
house till his death, which was of the small pox, Decem- 
ber 8, 1777. He was buried with eight of his parishion- 
ers in a field of one of them, Mr. John Smith, by the 
road side, near Otis Soule's. The following are their 
names : Zechariah Eddy, Widow Rhoda Smith, Joseph 
Smith, Bethia Smith, William Soule, Sarah Reading, 
Hannah Love, all between 5 and 18, December, 1777. 

The following is the inscription on the stone set at the 
head of his grave : — 

. " Memento Mori. 
IN MEMORY OF 

REV. SYLVANUS CONANT, 

MINISTER OP THE FIRST CHURCH IN MIDDLEBOROUGH, 

WHO DIED OF SMALL POX, DEC. 8, 1777, 

IN THE 58th TEAR OF HIS AGE, 
AND 33d of HIS jnNISTRY. 

So sleep the souls, and leave to groan, 
When sin and death have done their "worst, 

Christ hath a glory like his own, 
Which waits to clothe their wasting dust." 

The character of Mr. Conant has before been noticed, 
both as a preacher, an exemplary Christian, and a pri- 



38 



vate gentleman, and his great success in conciliating and 
uniting the church and people. He was successively the 
husband of three wives, who were much esteemed, but 
left no children. His memory is still dear to some of 
our people. 

One of his wives united to this church in 1758 by 
letter from the church in Norwich, Connecticut, and 
died in 1759, aged 28 years, and was interred in the 
parish burying ground. There is a stone also in the 
parish burying ground commemorative of his death. 



EXTARCT OF A MONODY BY REV. S. CONANT ON THE 
DEATH OF HIS WIFE. 

" 1 What voice is this I hear from yonder grave 

That charms my listening ear — awakes my love ? 
Sure 'tis some heavenly guest, inviting me to rest 
On my Redeemer's breast, — come from above. 

2. My willing soul attend without delay, 

And th' heavenly dove descend to point the way 
To soft retire and shade, amidst some silent grade, 
And be my light and aid, lest I should stray. 

3. Welcome sweet solitude, now I 'm alone. 

Let nothing here intrude, bo damp be thrown 

To quench the heavenly fire of love that doth inspire 

My heart with warm desire : Lord hear my groan. 

4. To see thy lovely form is all my aim, 

And meditate thy grace and charming name. 

Oh ! bless my longing eyes from yonder lofty skies 

With light, that I may rise and sing thy fame. 

6. My heart with sweet surprise is drawn away, 
A captive to the skies, when I array 
My ardent thanks to bring, unto my heavenly king. 
Whose praise I long to sing in endless day. 

6. One thing the muse implores before she goes 
From those delightful bowers of soft repose ; 
Lord, guide me in the way through life to yonder day. 
Where joy without decay, and pleasure flows. 



39 



When Rev. George Whitfield preached among us, he 
met Mr. Conant near the meeting-house not long after 
his ordination and asked him how the work prospered 
on his hands; Mr. Conant was desponding and said, 
" who is sufficient for these things." On entering tlie 
pulpit, Mr. Whitfield announced his text, "I am this day 
weak, though crowned king," and preached with great 
power. 

All the successive wives of Mr. Conant were greatly 
esteemed and beloved by his people, and of exemplary 
piety. 

Mr. Conant preached a sermon at Plymouth in com- 
memoration of the landing of the Pilgrims, Dec. 22, 
1620, which has been printed, as was also a sermon on 
the death of his wife. These attest the excellency of 
his preaching, as have also those who sat under the 
" droppings of the sanctuary" when he preached. 



REV. THOMAS WELD. 

This minister is sometimes numbered among the 
pastors of our church, but is scarcely entitled to that 
honor. He was a graduate of Harvard College in 1723, 
and his residence seems to have been in Boston. On the 
death of Mr. Thacher in the spring of 1 744, there were 
one hundred and fifteen male members in the church. 
Ninety-nine of them invited Mr. Conant to preach to 
them on probation, but the parish only permitted him 
to preach in their house one half day, and he preached 
for several months at the house of Madam Thacher. 
But his friends " built him a house." He was called by 



40 



the church to settle among them, but the parish peremp- 
torily refused to concur in the call. In the meantime, 
the parish had applied to Mr. Weld, and he had 
preached to them and the sixteen members of the 
church f the minority had given him a call to settle, 
and the parish concurred in the call. The church 
protested against his installation, but he was in- 
stalled October 2, 1745, Mr. Conant having been 
ordained the March before. He continued to minister 
to them in the old meeting-house till January 8, 1749, 
when the question was put in parish meeting, " whether 
they would dismiss Rev. Thomas Weld from the 
pastoral office, and he was then dismissed by a 
great majority of votes." The church was requested 
to join in the measure, and the meeting-house doors 
ordered to be shut against him. The reason of this 
abrupt proceeding does not appear. The church having 
passed a similar vote, March 18, the parish again passed 
the same vote, and agreed to join the church in calling 
a council to complete his dismission, giving leave to 
Mr. Weld to join them in the call. No doubt the 
council judged his dismission advisable. He, however, 
brought his action in Boston for his salary and put his 
people to much trouble and expense in defending it. 
He lost his case, and " brought his petition of review." 
Something must have been recovered, for March 26, 
1759 the precinct " voted to pay to the parishioners who 
had discharged the execution of the administrators of 
Mr. Weld against the parish ; to Jacob Thompson £38 
6s. 2d, to Seth Sampson and John Miller £16 2s. lid, 
and to William Harlow and John Miller £8 6s. 6 id., 
besides £5 8s. paid to Ignatius Elms." There was great 
embarrassment in paying the parish expenses, and the 



41 



same year the parish, " by vote, sokl unto David Sim- 
mons the old meeting-house for the sum of £13 6s. 8d, 
exclusive of the pews and the pulpit." 



ELIJAH PACKARD,* 

May 1, 1753, a Harvard graduate of 1760, was called 
to settle with this church (the minority) and parish. It 
does not appear that he responded to the call. He 
preached twenty-one Sabbaths for which they paid him 
£16 16s., and this is the last account of that meeting, 
although many parish meetings were afterwards held to 
wind up their affairs. After about two years negocia- 
tion, the parish, which had been divided into two 

societies by law of , 1747, was re-united by law of 

1754, and settled down peaceably under the ministry of 
Mr. Conant, having just before petitioned general court, 
" that no presentment might be made against them for 
being destitute of a minister until the precinct is in a 
better condition to settle one." 



REV. JOSEPH BARKER. 

After the death of Rev. Mr. Conant, the church and 
people became greatly interested in the preaching of 
Mr. Abraham Camp, a graduate of Yale, 1773. In 1778 
they invited him " to spend the winter with them," and 
in December, " Voted to give him a call on probation," 



* He was settled in the ministry at Plymouth, and afterwards went to 
Marlborough. His native place was Bridgewater. 

6 



42 



and in February following, imanimously invited him to 
the pastoral office. He answered doubtfully, and 
requested that the votes of the sisters might be taken. 
In November, 1780, the church again called him to the 
pastorate by vote of twenty-two to five. It was said 
that his high favor of "woman's rights" caused the 
opposing votes. Mr. Barker was recommended by Eev. 
Dr. Emmons, and was then sent for to Blanford where 
he was preaching. He was a graduate of Yale, 1771> 
and was admitted as master at that and several other 
colleges ; was unanimously called to the pastorate, 
August 9, 1781, and ordained December 5, of the same 
year. His ministry continued till his death, July 5, 
1816, except while he was in Congress, he having been 
a member of that body in 1805, 1806, 1807, and 1808. 
In his absence the pulpit was supplied by Eev. Azel 
Washburn, Rev. Simeon Doggett, and Rev. Mr. Robin- 
son, of Westborough. Rev. James Davis was with us in 
1807. 

Mr. Barker preached a century sermon one hundred 
years after the organization of the church, in which 
many of the historical records are taken notice of, 
and the character of our pastors given, which was 
printed at the time ; also, a sermon on the death of Dea. 
B.Thomas, in which his life and character are very 
graphically drawn. He was buried in the parish burial 
ground. 

Mr. Barker was considered an able, sound and ortho- 
dox preacher of the Hopkinsion school, and much 
respected by his people. Those who had lived under 
the ministry of Mr. Conant, thought there was in Mr. 
Barker a strong contrast between the two in pastoral 



43 



visitations, and cheerfulness, and condescention out of the 
pulpit ; but there was very little complaint. His 
studies were unremitted, and he brought " beaten oil " 
into the sanctuary. He was an able sermonizer, of 
which a volume of his sermons in print give decisive 
evidence. He was twice married; his first wife was 
Eunice Stebbins, of Longmeadow ; a lady of great 
cheerfulness, economy, and piety, and much esteemed 
by all the people. She died October 6, 1809, aged 49, 
much lamented. He had by her seven children : 
William, a graduate of Brown in 1808, James, also a 
graduate there in 1814; William died at Andover 
Seminary in 1809 ; Joseph, who has a family and lives 
in. the parish ; Stephen ; Eunice, who married Elkanah 
Doggett, and lived in Chicago, and has recently dej 
ceased ; Elizabeth, unmarried, and lived with her sister, 
and Mary, who died in childhood. 

His second wife, (who survived him,) was Anna 
Huntington, the widow of a clergyman in Connecticut. 



REV. EMERSON PAINE. 

He was a graduate of Brown university, 1813; was 
ordained February 14th, 1816, not without much oppo- 
sition ; and after a laborious ministry, (the opposition con- 
tinuing,) he was dismissed on his own request, by advice 
of an ecclesiastial council, July 4, 1822. He was after- 
wards for a number of years, pastor of the church in 
Little Compton, R. I., and afterwards preached in Halifax 
where he died, April 2G, 1851, aged 65 — and where his 
widow and several cliildren now reside. 



44 



EEV. AVILLTAM EATON. 

He was installed March 10, 1824, having been previ- 
ously, for ten years, pastor of the church in Fitchburgh ; 
was a graduate of Williams College in 1810, and at Ando- 
ver Theological Seminary in 1813. He was dismissed 
by his own request March 3, 1834 by a council, and was 
settled in Charlotte, Vermont, and afterwards in Hard- 
wicke, in this State. He died in West Brookfield, April 
12, 1840. His wife also has recently deceased. 



REV. ISRAEL WARBURTON PUTNAM. 



Mr. Putnam is a native of Danvers in this State, a 
graduate of Dartmouth College in 1809, and at Andover 
in 1814. He was pastor of the North Church, in Ports- 
mouth, New Hampshire, from March 15, 1815, to March 
15, 1835; was installed pastor over this church, October 
28, 1835, and still continues in that office. 



THE UPPER GREEN— PROPPJETOK'S MEETING-HOUSE, 

February 17, 1745. — About forty men of the church 
and parish agreed with each other to build a new meet- 
ing-house, and on the ninth day of June, that year, 
purchased of Col. Ebenezer Sproat two acres of land for 
that purpose, by deed of that date, and describe it as 
bounded, beginning at Mr. Lazell's corner, by the road, 
(corner of James Sparrow's garden.) and thence by the 



45 



road south, 40 degrees, west, 30 rods, thence north, 38 
degrees, west, 14 rods, thence north, 48 i degrees, east, 
28| rods, thence in Lazell's hne to the road. Deed 
recorded, book 29, folio 12-13. Sproat reserves one 
share and conveys the residue to thirty-nine others: 
Jabez Vaughan, Jonathan Smith, James Smith, Gershara 
Cobb, Seth Tinkham, Ebenezer Finney, Noah Thomas, 
AVilliam Cushman, Benjamin Tucker, Edward Thomas, 
Samuel Eddy, Jr., Zachariah Eddy, John Cox, John 
Cobb, Ezra Clapp, William Thomas, Jas. Tinkham, John 
Smith, Edmund Weston, John Soule, Henry Thomas, 
Jeremiah Tinkham, Oxenbridge Thacher, Joseph Bates, 
Jr., Thomas Darling, Jonathan Smith, Jr., Joseph 
Thomas, Samuel Thomas, Samuel Smith, Benjamin 
Thomas, William Short, Hezekiah Purrington, John 
Thompson, Samuel Wood, Eph'm. Wood, Enen'r. Wood, 
and Caleb Thompson. The house to be 55 by 45 in the 
walls. This was done, and we have the records of the 
proprietary to recent times. Mr. Conant and his people 
worshiped in this house, and after the union of the two 
societies in the year 1767, the house was made about 
twenty feet longer, by inserting that width in the middle 
of it. The proprietary continues. It once voted to 
give it to the parish for a burial ground, but the parish 
refused to take it on that condition. If they are now 
otherwise minded, no doubt they can have it. 



THE PARISH BURYING GROUND. 

This contains about two acres, and was purchased by 
about iifty persons of James Soule, in 1717, March 30; 



46 



acknowledged before Josiah Edon, Esq., March 7, 1717, 
and witnessed by Obadiali Eddy and his daughter Ben- 
nett. Recorded book 23, foUo 203, 204. Here are 
the names of the proprietors : Peter Thache r, Jacob 
Thomson, Isaac Howland, John Morton, John Thomson, 
Thomas Thomson, Jeremiah Thomas, WiUiara Thomas, 
Jonathan Cobb, Sen'r., Jonathan Cobb, Jr., John Cobb, 
Sen'r., John Cobb, Jr., Rodulphus Elms, Ichabod King, 
Shubael Thomson, William Nelson, Daniel Vaughan, 
Ephraim Wood, John Soul, Aaron Simmins, John Fuller, 
Edward Thomas, Elisha Vaughan, Jabez Vaughan, 
George Vaughan, John Vaughan, John Hascol, William 
Hascol, Henry Wood, Samuel Barrows, Benjamin 
Eddy, Samuel Eddy, Jonathan Morse, Jr., Isaac Fuller, 
Ebenezer Redding, Jonathan Smith, Joseph Barden, 
John Miller, Jr., Jonathan Fuller, Samuel Tinkham, 
Seth Howland, Joseph Bennet, Samuel Cobb, Peter 
Bennet, J oel Ellis, Samuel Sampson, Benjamin Stuart, 
Thomas Bicknell, Josiah Conant, John Tinkham, Isaac 
Tinkham, Joseph Cobb, Ebenezer Fuller, John Bennett, 
Samuel Bennett, John Raymond, Jr., Samuel Bennet, Jr., 
Samuel Parlour, and Nemiah Holmes, said Soul reserving 
one share. 

The first person buried in the burying ground was 
Lidea Thomas, July, 1717. 



"THE LOWER GREEN." 

It does not appear of whom the ground was purchased 
on which the old meeting-house stood, near the school- 
house ; but the "Green" round about it extending north 



47 



to the burial ground Avas given by deed acknowledged 
and recorded, book 12, folio 196, by James Sonic, who 
sold the burying ground as above, '' to the proper use, 
benefit and behoof of the military company of Middle- 
borough forever successively." The deed conveys two 
acres, and is dated the June 20, 1717. Mr. Jacob Soule 
held the originial deed, but left it with the parish. 



REVISED COYENANT AND ARTICLES OF FAITH. 

The Covenant and Articles adopted when the church 
was gathered were printed in 1722, and again in 1771, 
for the use of the church, and for the information of 
those who proposed to become members. When the 
Eev. Mr. Barker became pastor, the Covenant was 
revised and modernized, preserving the substance. It 
was intended to express the implied Covenant, which, 
by fair implication, those who professed to be believers 
in the Apostolic age, entered into, and which, not being 
written, was probably explained to the new converts. 
A written Covenant was adopted by the New England 
churches from the first, in John Cotton s time. Hooker 
says, " The Covenant is that which makes a church 
what it is, and gives the special nature thereto. It is 
called a ' house,' the body of Christ. It is in the house 
of God as in other houses ; we must become covenanting 
servants, if we have any interest there." The substance 
of the Covenant is in 11 Cor. : 18, — "They first gave 
their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of 
God." The usual form is given in Punchard, 313. The 
substance, as declared by the New England ministers, 
is '-'■ giving ourselves up to the Lord to be guided by 



48 



liim, and to the cliiirch according to God to be directed 
by it." Our revised Covenant fully accords with these 
views. 

Our Articles of Faith are intended to embody the 
substance of the Savoy Confession, agreed upon by the 
Congregationalists in Synod in 1658, not materially 
different from the Presbyterian confession by the 
Westminster Assembly in the catechism. Our brethren 
in England have no other. A particular confession, how- 
ever, may be useful to those who propose to join a 
church, and to the church also, in order that none may 
join but such as are agreed in the fundamental doctrines. 
It is usual in some churches for the candidate to sign 
the articles. But during the ministry of Mr. Bai^ker and 
Mr. Paine, no more was required but to assent to them 
before the pastor or committee. The articles were 
revised in the early part of the ministry of Mr. Eaton, 
and it has been usual to read them to the candidates for 
admission in presence of all the church. This is done in 
some other churches, but the practice is not general. 
The Savoy Confession was adopted by the Synod which 
framed the platform, and is published with it. 



THE COVENANT. 

You do now, in the most solemn manner, in the 
presence of the heart searching God, of angels and men, 
avouch the Lord Jehovah to be your God. 

You give up yourself, your time, talents, and all you 
have to the Lord. You resolve, by the help of Divine 
grace, to cleave to God and the Lord Jesus Christ in a 



49 



way of Gospel obedience. You propose to make the 
Holy Scriptures, at all times, the rule of your faith and 
practice, so far as, by the grace of God, you shall be 
enabled to understand them. 

You do also, by a solemn Covenant, give up yourself 
to this church according to the will of God, promis- 
ing to walk with us in the holy communion, and ordi- 
nances of the Gospel, willingly subjecting yourself to the 
watch and discipline of this church, and engaging to 
watch over your fellow members with love, care, and 
jfjiith fulness, for our mutual edification. To this do you 
consent ? 

We do then, cheerfully receive you into full com- 
munion with us, and promise, by the grace of God, to 
treat you as a member of Christ's body, faithfully and 
affectionately to watch over you, and always to be 
ready, by our council and prayers, to promote your 
spiritual interest. 

And we depend on your prayers for us, that we 'may 
have grace to perform with fidelity this engagement, 
and that all of us may be found faithful even unto 
death, and then join the church triumphant in glory, 
and be in the immediate presence of our Lord forever 
and ever. Amen. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH. 

I We believe there is only one living and true God, 
the creator of all things, and that in the Godhead there 
are three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and 
that these three are one true, eternal God, the same in 

7 



50 



substance, equal in power and glory, although dis- 
tinguished by their personal properties. 

II. We believe the Holy Scriptures contained in the 
Old and New Testaments, were given by inspiration of 
God to be the rule of faith and practice. 

III. We believe God made all things for himself; 
that known unto him are all his works from the begin- 
ing ; that he worketh all things after the counsel of his- 
own will, and that his laws and the principles and 
administration of his government are perfectly holy^, 
just and good. 

IV. We believe God created man in his own image, 
holy and without sin, and that he fell from that happy 
state by transgressing the divine command, and in con- 
sequence of the first apostacy, all men, previous to 
regeneration, are destitute of holiness, unreconciled to 
God, and under condemnation. 

Y. We believe the Son of God has, by his obedience, 
sufierings and death, made an adequate atonement for 
sin, and that all who are saved will be wholly indebted 
to the sovereign grace of God through his atonement. 

VI. We believe that such provision is made in the 
Gospel, that whoever will may take of the water of life 
freely ; yet, that sinners will not come to Jesus Christ 
except they are made willing by the special regenerating 
influences of the Spirit of God. 

VII. We believe that for those who are ordained to 
eternal life, who alone will believe in Jesus Christ, there 
is no condemnation ; but they will be kept by the 
power of God, through faith, unto salvation. 

VIII. We believe the qualification for admission into 



.^1 



the church of Christ is, in the sight of God, real piety, 
and in the sight of man apparent piety, and that all 
who are in regular standing in the church have a right 
to all the ordinances of his house, and baptism for their 
children. 

IX. We believe that every church has authority 
from the Great Head of the church to administer 
censures upon members who walk disorderly, and that 
it is not required to refer their decisions to any other 
earthly tribunal. 

X. We believe secret and family prayer, reading of 
the Scriptures, a religious observance of the Sabbath, a 
punctual attendance on the public worship of God, and 
such appointments of the church for prayer and confer- 
ence meetings, as are in accordance with the Scriptures, 
are important privileges and duties of professed 
Christians, and that a holy life is the best evidence we 
can give of piety. 

XI. We believe that, at the second coming of Christ, 
there will be a resurrection of the bodies, both of 
the just and unjust ; when all mankind will stand before 
the judgment seat of Christ, to receive a just and final 
retribution, according to the deeds done in the body ; 
and that the wicked will then go away into everlasting 
punishment, but the righteous into life eternal. 



ORDER OF THE MEETINGS OF THE CHURCH. 

Meetings are called at the pleasure of the pastor or 
of the committee, or on the request of any three of the 



52 



brethren, and are to be notified from the pulpit, the 
special business of the meetings to be made known at 
the same time if desired. 

The pastor is the moderator and the clerk, but the 
church may, at any time, choose any of the brethren to 
these offices, or a minister of a neighboring church for 
their moderator. Everything is to be done in the 
church in an orderly manner, according to the establish- 
ed rules of civil and ecclesiastical bodies. 

The brethren are to speak their sentiments freely, but 
in order, one speaking at a time, and the majority of 
votes is to decide all matters acted on by the church. 

Every member rises and addresses the moderator, and, 
on making a motion, has it reduced to writing, if desired 
by the moderator or brethren, and when seconded, it is 
read by the moderator, and submitted to the considera- 
tion of the church. 

The moderator decides all questions of order, but 
there may be an appeal from his decision to the church. 

When a report of a committee is presented, a vote to 
accept and adopt it is an expression of concurrence 
with the views of the committee. 

The church consider it to be the duty of the members 
to attend the meetings, and their attendance is expected 
when not prevented by necessity or great inconvenience. 



DEACONS. 

John Bennett, chosen deacon at the organization of the 
church; having served for sometime, was or- 
dained under the election of the church, March 

8, 1695. 



53 



Ebenezer Finney : the records do not show when he was 
chosen. These first deacons and their wives 
died in March, 1738, and were buried in one 
grave. 

Samuel Barrows, ) Ordained deacons July 25, 1725. 
ErnRAiM Wood : j No church record of their deaths. 

c TTT 1 Chosen January 30, 1735, ordained 

Samued Wood, March 5, 1737. Deacon Finney died 
^''™^^''^™^^ J in March, 1745. 

-r» rn 1 Choscu in Nov., 1745. Dea. Tucker 

Benjamin Tucker, 1,;^^ July 9, 1781, aged 76; Dea. 
(jtershom Cobb: /-i 1 1 "^ j x tt • i 
J Cobb removed to Harwick. 

Benjamin Thomas, chosen May 23, 1776, died July 9, 

1800, aged 78. 
IcHABOD Morton, chosen January 3, 1782, died May 10, 

1809. 
Abner Bourne, chosen June 8, 1796, died May 25, 1806. 
Joshua Eddy, chosen Oct. 10, 1805, died May 1, 1833. 
Perez Thomas, chosen May 4, 1803, died May 21, 1828. 
Calvin Tillson, chosen August 13, 1819. 
Samuel Sampson, chosen June 30, 1826, died July 30, 

1850. 
James Sproat, chosen October 26, 1834, died April 15, 

1837, aged 63. 
John Freeman, chosen October 26, 1834, died Feb. 20, 

1847, aged 59. 
Horatio G. Wood, chosen Dec. 2, 1842. He was dis- 
missed in order to become a member of the 

central Congregational church, March 25, 1849. 
Nathan Bassett : he was deacon of the church which 

worshipped at the old meeting-house, 1746, Mr. 

Weld, minister; but we have no record of his 

election. 



54 

Ephraim Wood, also, who was received in 1715, served 
many years as deacon, but there is no record 
of his election or ordination. 

Jonathan Cobb : his name is set to the instrument of 
"Mutual Confession" in 1738, as deacon; he 
early belonged to the church, but the time of 
his admission does not appear. Died Aug. 5, 
1728, aged 68 years. 



MEMBERS WHO BECAI^IE MINISTERS OP THE GOSPEL. 

Peter Teacher, Jr., graduate at Harvard College 1737; 
settled at Attleborough. 

Samuel Palmer, graduated at Harvard 1727 ; settled at 
Falmouth. 

Nathan Prince, graduated at Harvard 1718; settled at 
Rattan, Honduras. (See subsequent notice.) 

AzEL Washburn, graduated at Dartmouth College 1786 ; 
settled at Rutland, Vermont. 

Isaih Weston, graduated at Brown University 1793 ; 
settled in Fairhaven. 

Otis Thompson, graduated at Brown 1798; settled in 
Rehoboth. 

James Sproat, graduated at Yale College 1741; settled 
at Guilford, Conn., 25 years, and afterwards at 
Philadelphia, 25 years, and died 1793. S.T.D. 
Nor. Car. and Philadelphia: — "Dr. Sproat 
was a respectable divine and loved to dwell 
on the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel. He 
was held in high esteem, and evinced great 
piety and submission under the heaviest afliic- 



55 



tions. In the midst of the yellow fever, when 
but two or three usually attended a funeral, 
more than fifty attended his ; and some relig- 
ious Africans volunteered to carry his bier. 
He was converted under the ministry of Mr. 
Tenant, and was settled in his church after his 
death." — Allen's Bio., Die. 

Benaiah Pratt, was not a graduate, but preached in 
Maine in the new settlements. 

Daniel 0. Morton : he graduated at Middleberry College 
1813 ; settled in New Shoreham, Ver. ; Win- 
chendon, Mass., and died, 1852, in Bristol, N. H. 

Noah Alden : he was not a graduate, but was a man of 
distinction, and a useful preacher. He settled 
first at Stafford and afterwards at Bellingham ; 
was a member of the convention which formed 
the Constitution in 1780, and also of that 
which adopted the Constitution of the U. S. A. 

HiLYARD Bryant : he graduated at Amherst College in 
1831 ; settled at Wallingford, Conn., as an 
Episcopalian. 

Charles W. Wood -, graduated at Brown University 
1834, at Andover Seminary 1837; settled in 
Ashby, Mass. 

William Barker, died while pursuing his theological 
studies in Andover Seminary. 



NOTICE OF SOME OF THE MEMBERS. 

Although it may seem invidious, the committee feel 
constrained to notice some of the members of the church 
who have gone before us, with some particularity : — 



56 



JACOB THOMPSON, ESQ. 

An original member of the church, a man of distinc- 
tion as a surveyor and magistrate ; he surveyed the 
*^ twenty-six men's purchase," and divided it among the 
proprietors in lots, and also the proprietaries of several 
neighboring towns. He was a man of great weight of 
character, and took the lead in the deposition of Mr. 
Palmer. Several of his letters to neighboring ministers 
on that subject are still extant. He was considered a 
man of sound piety, and a pillar in the church, and 
greatly respected. 



1724 — SAMUEL PRINCE, ESQ. 

A print in Boston, called the " New England Weekly 
Journal," of July 15, 1728 says, "He was one of his 
Majesty's Justices of the Peace ; and five of the Justices 
of the county, and an ancient captain of the town, (July 
5,) were bearers at his funeral. He at first lived in 
Sandwich, then at Rochester, of which he was princi- 
pal proprietor, and was successively representative of 
each of these towns. He was religious from his youth, 
and much improved in Scriptural knowledge; of a 
public spirit and an open heart. In 1723 he came to 
Middleborough with his wife and resided with Rev. Mr. 
Thacher, who married his daughter. Mrs. Prince was 
the daughter of Gov. Hinkley, of Plymouth Colony, by 
whom he had seven sons and three daughters. He was 
father of Rev. Mr. Prince, of the Old South Church, 
Boston, the author of the Chronology. He was buried, 



57 



by his own request, under the shade of two oaks at the 
west end of the new burying ground, (the oaks are still 
standing,) and afterwards removed to a family tomb in 
the same yard. 

1723. — NATHAN PRINCE, 

Son of the above, was educated at Harvard College, 
where he was fourteen years tutor and five years a 
fellow, and afterwards an Episcopal missionary in the 
Island of Rattan, Bay of Honduras, where he died, July 
25, 1748, aged 50 years. He was author of a book on 
the resurrection of our Lord, and of another on the 
government of the college, both of which were in great 
estimation. "He is ranked among the great men of this 
country." — Allen! s Bio. Dictionary/. 

1725. — MERCY PRINCE, ALICE PRINCE, 

Daughters of said Samuel, and Elizabeth Ames, (1742) 
their cousin, were very important helpers in the church, 
and the tradition is that they promoted the presentation 
of the silver cup ; they may well be called a family of 
Princes. Elizabeth married Joshua Lazell, and lived in 
the house where James Sparrow now lives. Alice mar- 
ried Samuel Gray, of Harwich. 

1712, 1725 — MADAM THACHER AND 
MADAM MORTON 

"Were grandmothers to many parishioners, and mothers 
in Israel, ready with every good device and every good 
work ; the pilgrim spirit was in their hearts, and the 
pilgrim blood was in their veins, and for nearly forty 
8 



58 



years the clmrcli had no better helpers; both our 
records and tradition bear testimony to their active 
labors and charity. 

1735. — SAMUEL EDDY, JR. 

He was among the best hopes of the church. His 
wife Lydia, was sister to John Alden, the centenarian, 
whom some of us remember. They joined the church 
at an early age, and we find his name in every impor- 
tant committee, and especially in the troublous times 
which followed Mr. Thacher's death, he was relied on as 
well qualified to meet the crisis. The committee of the 
General Court said, "We could not understand these 
difficulties till Samuel Eddy came before us." The old 
people have told us, '^ we had no member of so much intel- 
ligence, firm and constant piety, and sound discretion in 
the things of the kingdom." His early death was much 
lamented. His two sons, Samuel and Nathan, were also 
members. They removed to the State of New York, 
and were fathers and grandfathers of a number of 
eminent ministers of the Gospel. 

1729. — MERCY BENNETT. 

She was the wife of Nehemiah Bennett, a man of 
good report in the church. She was a centenarian, and 
said " Peregrine White had been in her house." The 
great snow of 1717 was five or six feet deep. She said 
that " she was then eighteen years of age, and that she 
and two other girls of her age walked to Plymouth in 
that snow to meeting on the Lord's day, thirteen miles, 
and returned the same day." She was firm and consis- 
tant, and persevering in her piety to the end. 



59 

1736. — JOANNA PADDOCK. 

She was wife of Ichabod Paddock, and daughter of 
Thomas Faunce, the last " Ruling Elder " in the Plym- 
outh Church, the son of a pilgrim, and died in 1745, 
aged 99 years; a man known in all the churches as 
*' mighty in the Scriptures, strong in the faith, of great 
discretion, and deep and exemplary piety. A letter 
from Rev. Mr. Thacher to him, on the subject of the 
great revival, is extant, and soon to be published. In his 
last sickness, he showed the rock on which the pilgrims 
landed ; spoke much of the life to come, and to one, who 
mentioned to him the good he had done, said, " tell 
me not of that, if I am saved it will be through free, 
sovereign grace, abounding in Christ Jesus." The 
daughter was a Christian worthy of such a sire. 

1708-20. — ISAAC FULLER. 

He was son of the pastor, and a distinguished phy- 
sician; he lived in the "Fuller neighborhood," and 
practiced in the neighboring towns, and was often 
caUed to distant places. He was honored by the name 
" Mountebank," which was only vouchsafed to those who 
were able to prescribe an infallible remedy for all kinds 
of diseases, or supposed to be so. 

1731 — LUKE SHORT. 

The record b}^ Mr. Thacher is, " I suppose him near 
one hundred years old." The following account is from 
a magazine printed some thirty years since, and which 
agrees with the reminiscences of him by the old people 
whom we knew. " He was born in Dartmouth, England, 



60 



where he lived till he was sixteen years of age. He 
recollected to have seen Oliver Cromwell, and to have 
been present when Charles I. was beheaded in 1649. 
He led a seafaring life, and settled in Marblehead, and 
thence removed to Middleborough, and had a family of 
children. At one hundred years of age he worked on 
his farmland his mental faculties were but little impaired. 
He was sitting one day in his field at this advanced age, 
when his memory was fixed on his early life, and he 
called to mind the fact of his having heard the celebrated 
John Flavel preach, and his text, " If any man love not 
the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema marenatha." 
He also recollected much of the sermon, and also that 
he said, in the blessing, 'how shall I bless this whole 
assembly, when every person in it who lovetli not the 
Lord Jesus Christ is anathema maranatha.' Whereupon 
a Baronet fell to the floor with solemn conviction. 
These recollections called his attention to the subject of 
religion, and he obtained mercy and joined the First 
Church in Middleborough, and gave pleasing evidence 
of piety imtil his death in 1746, aged 116." His house 
where he lived and died was on the rising ground about 
one hundred rods southwest of Deacon Tilson's. 



Among the aged survivors of the great awakening 
and the wars, and troublous times, whom some of us 
remember, we would mention Dea. Benjamin Thomas, 
Barzillai Thomas and John Alden. Dea. Thomas, 
though not of a cultivated mind in other things, was 
well versed in the Scriptures, of inflexible virtue, sound 
and clear orthodoxy, and conscientious in the perform- 
ance of known duty, holding on upon the old landmarks 
and not letting them go. " He appeared to have a 



61 



and discerning mind, and active in duty. He was 
humbling sense of the depravity of his own heart and 
his own unworthiness of any favor from God, and said all 
his dependence was on the free grace of God." — Mr. 
Bar Jeer s fun. sermon. 

In 1782, he was a representative, and in 1788, a mem- 
bef of the convention which adopted the Federal Con- 
stitution. A bill was nnder discussion for repealing the 
law of primogeniture. The deacon declared his doubts, 
as the Scriptures showed special favors for the first horn- 
A Boston gentleman said, " the Deacon mistook the 
Scriptures, for they said that Jacob, though the j'ounger 
brother, inherited the birthright." The deacon said, 
" the gentleman had forgotten to tell us how he obtained 
it, how Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage, and 
how Jacob deceived his father, pretending to be Esau, and 
how his mother helped on the deception — he had for- 
goiton all thaV.' The laugh was at first against the deacon, 
but at last turned against the gentleman from Boston. 

1742. — BARZILLAI THOMAS. 

He was 70 years a member of this church, having 
been admitted at the age of twelve years. He was con- 
sidered as the most faultless and quiet person who ever 
lived among us. He appeared to have great religious 
enjoyment, and that constantly, conversing on nothing 
but "the things of the kingdom;" of a placid and hum- 
ble spirit, and well read in the divine word. 

1742.— JOHN ALDEN 

Was grandson of the pilgrim of that name, and lived to 
the advanced age of 102 years. He was of a clear, sound 



62 



always at his post on Lord's day, and at meetings of the 
church, although he lived four or five miles from the 
place of meeting. The Bible and the doctrines of grace 
were his "household words" and his firm reliance in 
hoping for salvation. At the age of ninety-eight he 
gave an important deposition with great clearness and 
promptness. He was asked if his life seemed long ? His 
answer was, " No ; short ; but important things depend 
upon this short life." His mind and body seemed 
unimpaired, when he was visited with an accute disease 
of which he died. His example and promptness in 
decision were of great benefit to the church. 

1786. — ISAAC THOMPSON, ESQ. 

"Was a man of great usefulness in the church and Com- 
monwealth. He was thirty-three years a member, and for 
twenty or thirty years a Representative or a Senator, 
and for a long time a Selectman ; was esteemed an 
honest man, and well approved ; was prompt and 
punctual at meeting, and an intelligent and active 
Christian. 

1812. — JOHN WESTON. 

He had, as was supposed, embraced religion forty 
years before, but had fallen into infidelity on reading 
the book of Thomas Paine ; at the age of eighty he was 
raised from his fall and died in peace. 

Among others admitted in old age were, in 1823, 
Josiah Clarke, 79, and Mercy Freeman, 77 ; in 1742, 
Elizabeth Lewis, 88 ; in 1786, Hannah Tinkham, 94. 

1807. — CALVIN TILLSON, JR. 

Made a credible profession ; was admitted at the age 



63 



of thirteen, and died at twenty-four. The whole eleven 
years of his religious life was active and warm hearted. 
He was intelligent and familiar with the Scriptures. 
He was much esteeemd by the church, and his early 
death much lamented. 

1742 — WOOD WAKD TUCKER. 

Was admitted at the age of nine years, and died aged 
28, leaving a good report in the church. 



NEW SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES. 

The town of Middleborough, with its present bound- 
aries, was incorporated by Plymouth Colonial Govern- 
ment, June 1, 1669, about which time the settlers came 
in. By law, the whole town was one parish, and con- 
tinued to be one about fifty years. 

THE WEST PRECINCT. 

This was incorporated 1719, July 19, and included all 
the southwest part of the town northerly to a line drawn 
from near the mouth of Fall Brook, westerly by Trout 
Brook to the Taunton line, including also a part of the 
town of Taunton. The church there was organized 
October 12, 1725. Our records do not show the names 
of the persons dismissed in order to become members of 
that church. Two, Ebenezer Richmond and William 
Strowbridge, and probably theirwives, were among the 
original members ; and March 24, 1727, Elizabeth 
Hacket was dismissed to join that church. 



64 



The first minister was the Rev. Benjamin Ruggles, a 
graduate of Yale, in 1721, after him Rev. Caleb Tm^ner, 
a graduate at Yale in 1758, after him Thomas Crafts, 
a graduated at Harvard in 1783, after him Rev. John 
Shaw, a graduate of Brown in 1806, then Rev. Homer 
Barrows, a graduate of Amherst in 1831, then Rev. Mr. 
Bragg, a graduate of Amherst in 1838. A new meeting- 
house was built by that church and parish in 1835. 
The present pastor is the Rev. Calvin Chapman, a 
graduate of Bowdoin College in 1839. 

HALIFAX. 

In 1735 the present town of Halifax was incorporated, 
and included within its lines a portion of what had been 
before Middleborough, our lines having before extended 
to Winnatuxet River. The following named members 
of our church were dismissed with letters testimonial, 
with a view of becoming original members of the church 
to be gathered in that town, which forthwith took place : 
Hannah Fuller, Phebe Standish, Ichabod Standish, Abi- 
gail Tinkham, Elizabeth Fuller, Mary Wood, Elizabeth 
Thompson, Mary Thompson, Sen'r., Mary Thompson, 
Lidea Cobb, Sarah Drew, Elizabeth Drew, Isaac Tink- 
ham, Ebenezer Fuller, John Fuller, Timothy Wood, 
Thomas Thompson, Ebenezer Cobb, and John Drew, Jr. 
The record adds, " Their dismissions and recommenda- 
tions are to be signed by the pastor, the deacons and 
Justice White." This was October 13, 1734. A Congre- 
gational church and the worship have always since been 
sustained in that town. John Cotton, the first pastor, 
was a man of considerable distinction, after him 
Rev. Ephrahim Briggs, and then Rev. Abel Richmond, 



05 



exercised each a long pastorate.* They have had no settled 
Minister since Mr. Rowland's dismission in 1835, but 

have recently invited Mr. Kimball to become their 

pastor, and are erecting a new meeting-house. 

TITICUT PARISH. 

There was a revival in Titicut under the preach- 
ing of Mr. Byram, in 1741, and a parish incorpo- 
rated February 4, 1743. But as the churches of 
Bridgewater and Middleborough refused to dismiss their 
members, no church was organized until February 16, 
1748 ; and even then, no dismissions were granted under 
the mutual jealousy of Rev. Mr. Shaw's church and Rev. 
Mr. Conant's, that they would not get the right minis- 
ter ; the one being for an " old light " and the other for a 
^* new light." Rev. Isaac Bachus says, " they resolved to 
be restrained by such tyranny no longer." " The church 
increased to three score members in ten months." The 
meeting-house had been raised and covered in 1747, but 
in 1748 a tax was laid upon the whole parish for com- 
pleting it, much to the ofi'ence of the " new lights," who, 
it seems, did not worship in it. Mr. Bachus preached 
two months in it, but was turned over to the " new 
lights," and taxed and distrained for it, which he says 
was " all he got for his two months' preaching." He, 
however, preached among them as a Congregationalist, 
until a Baptist church was gathered there January 26, 
1756, of which he was ordained its pastor. 

A dissention about baptism took the place of the " old 
light and new light " controversy, which put all the 

* Note. — Rev. Wm. Patten was the second pastor, and was settled there in 1757. 
Rev. p]lbridge G. Howe, and Rev. Freeman P. Howland, succeeded Mr. Richmond, each 
in a short pastorate ; since which time there has been a stated supply successively by 
Rev. E. P.iinp, and Rev. E. Sanford, 
Q 



66 



churches of New England in commotion. Several 
councils were called, one of them represented thirty- 
seven churches. Some contended that there should be 
no communion with such as did not baptize their 
children ; some contended for inmiersion, and that there 
should be no communion with such as were not im- 
mersed. Mr. Bachus was at first very liberal, and 
though he would not baptize infants, he allowed it to 
be done by other ministers, and he was willing to com- 
mune with such as were baptized only by sprinkling ; 
but he says he found John Bunyan's reasons for open 
communion were unsatisfiictory to him, and he thought 
best to take the separate stand. 

The Titicut Parish extends to the west precinct line, 
and to Purchade Brook, with the exception of certain 
estates which yet belonged to the old parish ; it also 
includes a part of Bridgewater to the " four mile line." 
Mr. Solomon Reed, a graduate of Harvard College in 
1739, was settled in 1756, and continued pastor till his 
death in 1785 ; he was succeeded by Rev. David 
Gurney, who was a graduate there in 1785, and was 
pastor till his death 1815. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Phillip Colby, ordained Jan. 1, 1817, and who cent:' nued 
to be their pastor till his death, Feb. 27, 1851. Ihey 
built a new meeting-house in 1808, and it had recently 
been remodelled and finished, when on Feb. 29, 1852, it 
was entirely burned down, four days before the time set 
for the ordination of their pastor elect, Mr. Thomas E. 
Bliss, and the ordination was postponed. A new Meet- 
ing-house has since been erected, and Mr. Bliss was or- 
dained in it June 2, 1852. 

NORTH ROCHESTER. 

In 1793, the southeasterly part of the town was 



67 



incorporated with a part of the towns of Rochester and 
Freetown, and constituted a parish, now known by the 
name of North Rochester. In 1794 the north line was 
perambulated, and was run from Pocksha Pond, by the 
north line of the farms of Nehemiah Bennet, Esq. and 
Martin Keith, Esq., and thence due east to the line of 
the town of Carver. It seems a church had been 
gathered there previously to the act of incorporation. 
Jacob Bennett and his wife, Hope Bennett, whose 
maiden name was Nelson, and Elijah Perry and his wife, 
Sarah Perry, were members, and said to have come from 
our church. It is not improbable that they joined it 
under the ministry of Rev. T. Weld, as Mr. Bennett 
belonged to Mr. Weld's meeting, and we have no records 
of what the church under Mr. Weld did, or of its 
members. Mr. Bennett returned here in 1785, and his 
wife communed with our church, but it is not remem- 
bered that Mr. Bennett did. A meeting-house was 
built soon after the act of incorporation, and the ordi- 
nances were administered to the church, Rev. Calvin 
Chaddock being the first pastor. He was a graduate of 
Dartmouth College in. 1791 ; and since his death a new 
meeting-house has been built, and their present pastor 
is Rev. Isaac Briggs, a graduate of Brown University 
in 1795. It seems that a Mr. West preached a number 
of years at 'Sowampset, and that the people on the east 
side of the pond attended his meeting, usually passing 
over in boats ; that the church was organized under his 
ministry, and that this church became connected with 
the North Rochester precinct. We have no records of 
that church, but have a diary of Mr. Bennett, from which 
it appears that such was the fact, and that he was a 
member, and that several of oLir church who joined 



68 

under the ministry of Mr. AVelcl became connected 
with that church. 

CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 

The organization of this church took place in the 
meeting-house of the first .precinct, March 25, 1847. 
Rev. E. N. Kirk, of Boston, preached, and Rev. I. W, 
Putnam, pastor of the first church, gave the right hand 
of fellowship. The transaction took place under the 
advice of an ecclesiastical council. The establishment 
of a society connected with the church took place about 
the same time, in pursuance of the provisions of the 
Revised Statutes ; first, by a voluntary agreement of 
members, and then by a warrant from a Justice of the 
Peace, issued upon the petition of the members, autho- 
rising the first meeting. The society is not by lines, but 
expects its members from the first precinct, on the 
westerly side of the Nemasket River. They built their 
present elegant house of worship at the " Four Corners," 
finished in 1849. Their first and present pastor, Rev, 
Isaiah C. Thacher, a graduate of Union College, 1841, was 
installed August 16, 1849, having before been settled in 
Mattapoiset, (Rochester.) Their covenant and articles of 
faith are identical with those of this church. The 
deacons are Hratoio G. Wood, Ebenezer Pickens, and 
James D. Wilder. The Central Church, at its organiza- 
tion, consisted of thirty-three members, who, at their 
request, were dismissed from the First Church, and cor- 
dially recommended for the enterprise. 

The following are their names : — 

Cornelius Burgess, Mrs. Abigail W. Wood, 

Mrs. Melissa Burgess, Miss Emily T. Wood, 

Mrs. Betsey T. Burgess, Adoniram J. Cushman, 

Horatio G. Wood, Mrs, Ann S. Cushman, 



», i.»J.XO, XX11J.X K,-, V^ LlClJlllCtlJ, 



69 



Consider Robbins, 
Mrs. Ruth Reed, 
James D. Wilder, 
Mrs. Bathsheba Wilder, 
James Warren, 
Mrs. Margaret Warren, 
Nathan Perkins, Jr., 
John Perkins, 
Mrs. Ann S. Perkins, 
Ebenezer Pickens, 
Mrs. Mary B. Pickens, 
Mrs. Abigail S. Pickens, 
Miss Caroline M. Pickens, 



Nathan King, 

Mrs. Eliz'bth H. Washburn, 
" Olivia A. Hitchcock, 
" Freelove P.Rounseville, 
" Betsey Thomas, 
« EUzabeth Wood, 

Miss Eleanor B. Wood, 

Mrs. Almira Goddard, 

Miss Sarah Jackson, 

Mrs. Zilpha M. Clark, 

Miss Hope Writhington, 

Mrs. Mary Dunham. 



Admissions since the organization. 



1847. 
Mrs. Lucy C. Wood, 
" Ellen Wood, 
" Elisabeth Whitmore, 

1848. 
Mrs. Lucy Bourne, 
Joseph Sampson, 
Mrs. Harriet Eaton, 
" Maria L. Harlow, 

1849. 
Branch Harlow. 
Andrew J. Pickens, 
James M. Pickens, 
Perry A. Wilbur, 
Henry D. Bassett, 
Edward Burt, 
Mrs. Elizabeth Burt, 
Henry Arnold, 
Mrs. Elizabeth Arnold, 
Miss Sarah Lane, 

1850. 
John McCloud. 
Nathan Dunbar, 
Mrs. Betsey Dunbar, 
Miss Eveline H. Wilder, 



Miss Harriet Rounseville, 
Mrs. Mary C. Thacher, 
Miss Lauretta W. Wing, 
Elijah Burgess, 
Isaac D. Bump, 
Mrs. Juliana Bump, 
Miss Elizabeth Cushman, 

" Emily F. Perkins, 
Mrs. Almira E. Perkins, 

" Sarah Tucker, 
George Back, 
George Washburn, 
George H. Shaw, 
Mrs. Ann Maria A. Shaw, 

« Lydia E. Shaw, 
Foster A. Harlow, 
Rufus K. Harlow 
Mrs. Lurany Harlow, 
Miss Elisabeth S. Harlow, 

" Harriet W. Burgess, 
Noah C. Perkins, 
Mrs. Mary Allen Perkins, 
John Sidwell, 
Mrs. Ziplia Ann Rich, 
Miss Eliza Ann S. Morton, 



70 



Mrs. Maria Adelina Davis, 
" Harriet N. Deane. 

Francis F. Eaton, 

Mrs. Augusta S. Eaton, 
" Bulah Ann S. Cole, 

Fanny D. Lane, 

Mrs. Susan F. Shaw, 

Miss Bathsheba L. Wilder, 

George L. Soule, 

Preston Soule, 

Amos Thomas, 

Henry Dunham, 

Ann Fitzpatrick, 

Ebenezer T. Soule, 

Mrs. Clarissa R. Soule, 
" Patia S. Doane, 



1851. 

Miss AbisJ-ail Washburn. 

Mrs. Sarah A. Jenney, 
" Ann M. Oilman, 
" Louisa Jane Dunham, 
" Betsey Harlow, 

Joshua C. Jenney, 

Ralph Copeland, 

Mrs. Nancy C. Copeland, 

Miss Elisabeth Bryant, 

Mrs. Lucy M. Pickens 
1852. 

Mrs. A. N. Tisdale, 
" Hannah Goss, 

Miss Mary M. Southworth, 

Abiel Wood, 

Mrs. Matilda Wood. 



BAPTIST SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES. 

There are " poll parishes," not such by lines, but by 
the vicinity of members, such as are within convenient 
distances, for united worship. The first in all this 
region, for fifty miles or more, was formed in Titicut 
June 16, 1756, under the influences of Rev. Isaac Backus, 
its first pastor ; the second was gathered in the west 
precinct, (Beach Woods,) Nov. 16, 1757 ; the third in 
South Middleborough August 4, 1761, and has its mem- 
bers both in the first precinct and North Rochester 
precinct, the lines of which are near their meeting- 
house, called Tue Bock. The Central Baptist Church at 
the Four Corners, was formed August 13, 1828, and has 
its members chiefly within the lines of the first precinct. 
Rev. Mr. Medbury was its first pastor, ordained Nov. 12, 
1828, dismissed July 5, 1832; Rev. Harvey Fitz wns 
settled August 1, 1832, dismissed May 15. 1836; Rev. 



E. Nelson was ordained Dec. 19, 1836, and dismissed 
March 16, 1851; Eev. J. Aldrich settled April 7, 1851. 
The meeting-house was built in 1828, by Levi Peirce, 
Esq., and presented to the church. 

OTHER SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES. 

There are two Free Communion Baptist Churches in 
town. One in " Beech Woods" and one near 'Sowampset 
pond, both within the west precinct. There are also in 
town two Methodist churches, one in Fall Brook Village, 
and one in South Middleborough, at a place called The 
Spruce. There is also a Christian Baptist meeting. 
All the churches in town have always been in jDcace 
with each other, and rejoice in each others prosperity. 

THE FUND. 

The house now owned and occupied by Mr. James 
Sparrow, was built by Rev. Sylvanus Conant, whose heirs 
sold it with its premises to the parish. Rev. Mr. Barker de- 
sired to purchase it of the parish, and it was sold to him, 
and the sale money was funded. Afterwards the late Mr, 
Samuel Tinkham devised his whole farm in " the Little 
Precinct " to the parish, the income of which was to be 
for the support of the minister for the time being. This 
was sold and the proceeds also funded. The fund was 
soon sufficient, by its income, to pay the salary of the 
pastor, and was so appropriated until the dismissal of Rev, 
Mr. Eaton. By a process, yet not wholly understood, and 
by the erection of a parsonage, this fund was diminished 
from $9,000 to less than $3,000, so that the greater part 
of the salary is now raised by subscription. 

Mr. Tinkham and his wife were exemplary members 
of the church. The following is the inscription on their 
monument on " The Hill " where they are buried : — =. 



72 



" Erected by the direction of the First Precinct in Middleborough to the me- 
mory of Mr Samuel Tinkham, who died March 28, 1 796, aged 72 and four days. 
When in life he was benevolent to the poor, and in his last will gave all his real 
estate for the support of the public worship of God in this precinct. Patience, 
wid. of said Samuel, died Nov. 3, 1814, aged 92." 

THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE. 

The lot on which it stands, (about four acres,) was 
purchased of Zenas Cushman in 1827, and the House 
was built in 1828, at an outlay of $12 or $13,000, and 
chiefly paid by the sale of the pews. Nearly three 
acres of the land is turned out in common. The vestry 
was built the year following. The lot on which the 
parsonage stands was purchased of Hercules Cushman, 
in 1832, when the parsonage was built. The architect 
of the new meeting-house was Brother James Sproat ; it 
is a monument of his professional skill, and of his zeal for 
the decent and orderly worship of God. 



TABLE FURNITURE. 

The first set of communion ware used by the church was given 
by them to a Mr. Scott, for the use of a CongregationBl church in 
Nova Scotia, of which he was chosen pastor, and over which he was 
ordained pastor in our meeting-house, in or about 1780 — a church 
which greatl}'- prospered under his long and faithful ministry. Ano- 
ther set was purchased by the church, (of pewter or block tin,) 
which, when the present meeting-house was built, was sold in sepa- 
rate pieces to different members, and with the proceeds and dona- 
tions of members, the present set was purchased for about $135. 
The small silver cup, the gift of the sisters in 1734, has always been 
set on the table. A large fancy silver cup, presented by the wife 
of Governor Bowdoin, while he resided in town, (as we are inform- 
ed,) is not now set on the table, but preserved as a keepsake. The 
following is the inscription on the small cup : — 

" GIVEN BY THE SISTERS OF THE 
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN MIDDLEBOROUGH, 

1734." 



CATALOGUE 



MEMBERS OF THE FIRST CHURCH, 



MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASS. 



The saints on earth, and all the dead, 
But one communion make ; 

All join in Christ, their liTing head, 
And of his grace partake- 



INDEX 



TO THE NAMES OF MEMBERS. 



ALDEN 

32 John 

33 Hannah 

222 David 

223 Judith 
334 Noah 
401 Solomon 
427 John 

617 Elijah 

618 Mary 

619 Elihu 

ALLEN 

65 Mary 

76 Nathaniel 

305 Mary 

326 David 

AMES 

301 Elizabeth 
ANTONY 

315 Else 

AT«'OOD 

720 John 

721 Rhoda 

840 Francis 

841 Shadrack 
962 Mary R. 

1004 Joanna 
1069 Sarah A. 
BARDEN 
20 Deborah 
85 Abigail 
88 Stephen sr. 
170 Abraham sr. 
181 Mary 

203 Elizabeth 

204 Esther 

229 Abraham, jr. 
BARKER 

545 Joseph Eev. 

579 Eunice 

714 William 

760 Anna 

788 Elizabeth 
BARROWS 
30 Mercy 
69 Samuel 

132 Samuel, jr. 

133 Susanna 
208 Coombs 
248 Fear 
274 Ruth 
562 Ruth 
914 Freeman 

BASSETT 
125 Nathan 
294 Nathan 
302 Thankful 



BATES 

86 Joseph sr. 
144 Joanna 
310 Joseph jr. 
474 Mary 

677 Susanna 

678 Joseph 
BENNET 

3 John 

4 Deborah 
147 Samuel sr. 

179 Nehemiah 

180 Mercy 
207 Mary 

215 Eleanor 

216 Ruth jr. 
221 Ruth sr. 
273 Thankful 
238 Bachelor 
763 Mercy 
775 Mercy 
780 Jacob 2d 
794 Rebecca 

BENSON 
477 Samuel 

BENT 
671 Experience 

BILLINGTON 

14 Isaac 

186 Mary 

499 Ichabod 

518 Elenor 

BOOTH 
472 Priscilla 

BOURNE 
563 Abner 
568 Mary 
675 Abigail 

587 Newcomb 

588 Abigail 
607 Lydia 
755 Abigail 

765 Joseph 

766 Sophia 
815 Louisa 
895 Lucy 

BRAND 
1044 Joanna 
BRANNACK 

520 Consider 
BBIGGS 

490 John 

491 Remember 

522 Ebenezer 

523 Abigail 

708 George 

709 Patience 
1034 Mary 



BROWN 

561 Elizabeth 

BUMPAS 

18 Weibra 

111 Mary 

405 Nathaniel 
BUMP 

596 Mercy 
BRYANT 

540 Margaret 

580 Hannah 

6-36 Jesse 

637 Mercy 

816 Hillyard 
1055 Mercy E. 
BURGESS 

287 Jacob 

782 Temperence 

1041 Cornelius 

1042 Melissa 
BUSS 

842 Martin 

843 Eliza 
CALIMINCO, 463 
CANEDY 

189 Anibal 
432 Elizabeth 
CARVER 

611 Josiah 

612 Jerusha 
GARY 

536 Ichabod 

637 Hannah 
CASWELL 
56 Mary 

171 Daniel 

192 Mary 

277 Else 

899 Polly W. 
1065 Susan H. 
CAVENDER 

126 Ann 

266 John 

CHAMBERLAIN 

844 Joseph 
CHAMMUCK 

383 Martha 
CLAPP 

138 Ezra 

139 Waitstill 
362 Elijah 
375 Hope 
437 Manasseh 

CLARKE 
77 Nathan 



CLARKE 

807 Josiah 

808 Mary 

809 Deborah P. 

845 Elizabeth 
1015 Zilpha 

CLEAVES 
51 Eleanor 

COADE 
774 Hannah 

COBB 
17 John 

22 Jonathan 

23 Hope 
57 Rachel 
70 Lydia 

119 Joanna 
219 Thankful 

236 Ebenezer 

237 Lydia 
272 Gershom 
419 John jr. 

421 John sr. 

422 Mary 
434 Patience 
436 Hope 
455 Meletiah 

469 Ebenezer 

470 Mary 
418 Abijah 
425 Mercy 

628 Ebenezer 

629 Lydia 

644 Binney 

645 Azubah 
684 Mary 
707 Jacob 
764 Priscilla 

846 Otis T. 

847 Adeline 
903 Olive T. 

COLE 

473 Thomas 
COLWELL 

966 Mary Ann 
COMSTOCK 
1067 Saba A. 
CONANT 

101 Elizabeth 

468 Sylvanus, ReT. 

492 AbigaU 
CORNISH 

593 William 
1056 Louisa 

COX 
397 Hannah 



75 



cox 

398 John sr. 
410 John jr. 

430 Hannah 

431 Mary 
CROCKER 

290 Lydia 

CROSSMAN 
209 Barnabas 
253 Hannah 

CURTIS 
759 Sally 

CUSHMAN 
368 William 
869 Susanna 
445 Ichabod 
497 Deborah 
548 Susanna 
565 Mercy 
741 Sylvia 
930 Susanna 

1012 Adoniram J. 

1013 Ann S. 
CUTBART1 

16 Samuel 

DARLING 

42 Joanna 
, 149 Thomas 

265 Rebecca 

365 John 

423 Elizabeth 
' 715 Daniel 

716 Polly 

848 Alanson 

849 Hannah H. 

850 AuriUa 
DEAN 

964 Eliab 

986 Lydia 

987 Lois 
1047 Ruth E. 

DELANO 

89 David sr. 

168 Meribah 

169 Ann 

438 David jr. 
DEXTER 
1060 EUjahRev. 
DOANE 

1031 Calvin 
DOGGETT 

803 Eliphalet 
DOTY 

615 Isaac 
DREW 
78 John 
99 Sarah 
173 EU2abeth 
DUNHAM 
162 Ephraim 
211 Lemuel 
260 Elizabeth 

288 Joshua 

289 Ketura 
404 Ephraim 
433 Mercy 
983 Henry 

EARLB 

1021 Halford 

1022 EUzabeth 
EASTMAN 

932 Mary Jane 



EATON 

15 Samuel 
226 Francis 
886 William, ReT. 
890 Lydia 

EDDY 

60 Malatiah 

61 Samuel 
100 Abigail 
234 Jabez sr. 

243 Samuel jr. 

244 Lydia 
263 Jedidah 

341 Zachariah 

342 Mercy 

450 Jabez jr. 

451 Patience 
516 Nathan 

' 535 Samuel 
543 Susanna 

633 Joshua 

634 Lydia 

665 Seth 

666 Jerusha 

681 Silvanus 

682 Nathaniel 

683 Lydia 

718 Zechariah 

719 Sarah 
761 Anna 
797 ALby 

851 ThaUa 

852 Anne Juliet 
898 Lydia 

915 Betsey 

916 Betsey M. 
944 Joshua 
955 Jane Ellen 

967 Charles E. 

968 Eliza 

969 Susan M. 

970 Ann Elizabeth 
988 Charlotte E. 

1009 Lucy Ann 

1010 Mary Jane 
1059 Melinda B. 
1068 Elira Jane 

EDSON 

853 Charlotte 
ELLIS 

190 Elizabeth 
384 Elizabeth jr. 
623 Lucia 
677 Deborah 
680 South-worth 

971 Susanna M. 
984 Lucia C. 

ELMES 
172 Sarah 
524 Elkanah 
792 Leonard 
804 Eliphalet jr. 

817 Eliphalet sr. 

818 Chloe 

854 Lavinia 

855 Louisa 
FAUNCE 

476 Abigail 
FELIX 

324 Thomas jr. 
FINNEY 

240 Ebenezer 

246 Jane 

364 Nelson 



FINNEY 

586 Sarah 
609 Martha 
657 Margaret 

819 Jane 

FOLEY 
1035 James 
FREEMAN 

486 Bethiah 
676 John 

820 Hannah 
856 Mercy 
893 Mary 
972 Jane 

1061 Virtue M. 
FULLER 

1 Samuel, Rev. 

2 Elizabeth 

28 John sr. 

29 Mercy 
41 Mary 
91 Isaac 

94 Ebenezer 

95 Elizabeth 
97 Hannah 

103 Elizabeth 
146 Silence 
151 Lydia 

155 Mercy 

156 John 
247 Jabez 
276 Mary 
304 Timothy 
370 Mary 
647 Betty 

673 Lucy 

674 Sally 
685 Sophia 
799 Sylvia 

857 Lauretta Ann 

878 Jabez 

879 Sally 
881 Susan B. 

1050 Consider 

GIBBS 

167 Elizabeth 
GISBY 

773 William 

928 Thomas 
GODDARD 
1045 Almira 
GRIFFETH 

251 Elizabeth 

283 Mary 
GUMEB 

220 Sarah 
HACKET 

48 Elizabeth 

150 Lydia 
HALL 

453 Mercy 
HARLOW 

632 Betsey 

767 Mercy 

769 Hepzibah 

936 David 

989 Stephen jr. 

990 Jonathan 

991 Sarah 

992 Betsey B. 

993 Mary L. 
1029 Bethiah 0. 



HARRINGTON 

956 Lucy 
HARRIS 

420 Seth 

HASKELL 

49 Mary 

594 Abigail 

598 Zebulon 
HASKINS 

973 Jerusha 
HATHAWAY 

331 Mary 
HAYFORD 

225 Mary 

239 Beujamin sr. 
HILL 

945 Harriet 
HITCHCOCK 

1038 Henry D. 

1039 Olivia 
HOLMES 

625 'Ihanliful 

858 Rufus 

859 George L. 

860 Eunice 
HOWLAND 

382 Joseph 
HUBBARD 

728 Serena 
JACKSON 

278 Joanna 
335 John jr. 
462 i^arah 
909 Sarah 

JENNY 416 
KIDDER 
687 Sally 

KING 

79 Ichabod 
83 Judith 

279 Mary 
787 Mercy 
925 Nathan 

KNOWLTON 
185 Martha 

188 Thomas 

388 Prudence 
LAWRENCE 

965 Sarah 
LAZELL 

312 Joshua 

LEACH 
316 Abiel 
361 Susanna 
4-35 Sarah 
.504 John 
505 Betty 
517 Phebe 
704 Susanna 

1048 George M. 

1049 Betsey E. 

LEONARD 

66 Charity 
443 Margery 
446 John sr. 
603a-ucy 
686 Betsey 
888 Elizabeth 
951 Sally 



76 



LEWIS 

26 Elizabeth 
34 Mar3- 

285 Shubael 

286 Hazadiah 
381 EUzabeth 

LING 

658 Jane 
LITTLEJOHN 

8C5 Deliverence 

821 Miriam 
861 Haiinali 

1062 Elizabeth 
LOVELL 
31 Mary 
367 John jr. 

408 Lydia 
413 Thankful 
449 Joseph 
758 Jerusha 

LUCAS 

599 Elijah 

600 Sarah 

822 Job 
LYON 

201 Samuel 

202 Joanna 
228 Bethiah 
293 William 
329 Jedediah 

389 Martha 

390 Sarah 

391 Phebe 
589 Mary 

MACIIAAN 

152 Patience 
McDOWALL 

641 John 

McGLATHLIN 

1070 Freeman T. 

1077 Harriet 

MANSFIELD 

l(i9 Andrew 

110 Sarah 
MAKGAllET 36 
MAXFIELD 

521 Catherine 
MILLER 

157 Lydia 

264 VVaitstill 

409 John jr. 
560 Sarah 
882 Susanna 

MORSE 

5 Jonathan 

6 Mary 

50 Mary jr. 

284 Martha 

498 Desire 

549 Isaac 

574 Thankful 

626 Desire 

712 Sage 

889 Lucy W. 

891 Kuth 

1016 Marston S. 

1053 Charles S. 

1082 Mary M. 

MORTON 

80 Hannah 

127 Mercy 

495 Ichabod 



MORTON 
496 Deborah 
662 Daniel 0. 

789 Hepzibah 

862 Lendall P. 

904 Eliza S. 
910 Hannah D. 

MUXHAM 
533 Edmund 

NICHOLS 

974 Lucia Maria 
NORCUTT 

622 Mary 

905 Mary 
NYE 

73 Elizabeth 
OLIVER 

528 Peter jr. 

531 Sarah 
ORCUTT 

975 Harriett 
ORRINGTON 

954 Mary Ann 
OSGOOD 

942 AdeUne H. 
PADDOCK 

210 Ichabod 

261 Joanna 

699 Lydia 

798 Julia 
PAINE 

791 Emerson, Rev. 
PALMER 

21 Thomas, Rev. 

142 Samuel 

158 Elizabeth 

184 Elizabeth jr. 

296 Job 
PARKER 

461 Joseph 
PARLOW 

153 Hannah 

448 Hannah 
PERKINS 

749 Lothrop 

750 Mercy 

790 John 

863 Nathan jr.. 
1023 Eunice 
1043 Ann 

PEGGY 303 
PERU 444 
PIERCE 

642 Experience 
PICKENS 

896 Kbenezer 

897 Mary B. 

943 Caroline M. 
1033 AbigaU S. 

POMROY 
475 Hannah 
485 Francis jr. 

POOL 

906 Samuel 

907 Lydia 
PORTER 

620 Mercy 
729 SibU 
776 Sarah 



POWERS 

500 Stephen 

501 Lydia 
PRATT 

27 Thomas 
191 Hannah 
200 Phebe 
227 Jane 
270 John 
394 Eleazersr. 
396 Joanna 

406 Samuel 3d 

407 Hannah sr. 

440 Samuel jr. 

441 Jerusha 
466 Elizabeth 
604 Sarah 
610 Margaret 
621 Benaiah 
624 Lucy 
646 Benjamin 
772 Thomas 

823 Lydia 

824 Phebe 
864 Olive 
963 Betsey 
976 William 

1024 Benjamin F. 

1025 Abby B. 

1026 Mahala S. 
1032 Thomas A. 

PRINCE 
117 Nathan 

120 Samuei 

121 Mercy 

128 Mercy 

129 Alice 
PRINCE 314 
PURRINGTON 

256 Hezekiah 

257 Mercy 
507 Mercy 

PUTNAM 
939 Israel W. Rev. 
941 Julia Ann 
1006 Harriot 0. 
1036 William F. 
1057 Julia Maria 
RANSOM 

130 Sarah 
RAYMOND 

52 

87 James 
104 John sr. 
187 Elizabeth 
213 John jr. 

254 Mercy 

255 Alice 

291 Christiana 
325 Barnabas 
330 Patience 
373 Elizabeth jr. 
393 Ebenezer 

457 Thomas 

458 Mary 

459 Amos 

460 Peter 

REDDING 

62 Ebenezer 
123 Mercy 
245 Bennet 
353 Deborah 
426 John 



REDDING 

439 William 
467 Thomas 

478 Joanna 
494 Thankful 
508 Sarah jr. 
513 Fear 

597 Luther 

REED 

937 Ruth 
RICHMOND 

58 Ebenezer 
RICKARD 

205 Elkanah 
233 Bethiah 
374 Japheth 

RIDER 

756 Jael 
RIPLEY 

676 Tilson 

688 Hezekiah 

689 Priscilla 
BOBBINS 

1030 Consider 
ROGERS 

108 Sarah 
ROUNSEVILLE 

931 Freelove G. 
SAMBO 415 
SAMPSON 
67 Samuel 
193 Obadiah 

206 Mary 
224 Bethiah 
562 Thankful 

732 Samuel 

733 Lydia 

SAVERY 

479 Mary 

667 Daniel 

668 Huldah 

1063 Thomas 

1064 Penelope 
1084 Rhoda J. 

SEARS 

333 David 

399 Phebe 

703 Abiah 
SHAW 

483 Elkanah 

527 Elizabeth 

529 Thomas 

530 Mary 

557 William 

558 Lydia 

572 James 

573 Lois 
648 Isaac 
651 Samuel 
654 Mark 

1076 Lydia 

1078 Francis M. 

1079 Benjamin 

1080 Rethiah 
SHORT 

197 Luke sr. 
SHURTLIFP 

1081 Zilpha 
SIMMONS 

447 Martha 



77 



SMITH 

63 Jonathan 

90 AbigaU 
154 Sarah 
161 James 
309 Kachel 
313 Deborah 
318 Jonathan jr. 
360 Samuel 
392 Sarah 
417 E xperience 
564 ^iwanna 
679 Levi 

690 James 

691 Patience 
885 Lydia 

977 Mahala 
1046 Susanna B. 
1054 Elizabeth S. 

SNOW- 
SI? Jonathan 

SOULE 

55 Martha 
442 John jr. 

464 Rebecca 

465 Kachel 
471 Esther 
654 Sarah 
555 Lydia 
664 James 2d 

710 John 

711 Joanna 

866 James 

867 Kuth 
952 Irene 

978 Isaac 3d 

979 Priscilla 

980 Kebecca 
1011 Alfred B. 

1051 Hannah W. 

1052 Mareia 

SOCTHWORTH 

69 Esther 

135 Nathaniel 
137 Jael 

308 Kebecca 

SPARROW 
643 Rhoda 

734 Josiah 

735 Minerva 

825 Bathsheba 

SPROAT 

136 Experience 
143 Abigail 
292 James 
323 Ebenezer 
793 James 
827 Lucy 

868 Thomas 
883 Mary 

STANDISH 

194 Ichabod 
198 Phebe 
740 Irene 

826 Josiah 0. 
900 Jane 

STAPLES 
929 Sfimeon 

STROWBRIDQE 

106 William 

107 Margaret 



STURTEVANT 

195 Moses 

196 Klizabeth 
627 Sarah 
731 Abigail 
764 Priscilla 
779 Eunice 
795 Fanny 

SWIFT 
786 Lucy 

828 Josephjr. 

829 Mercy 

830 Lucy jr. 
THACHER 

35 Peter, Kev. 

47 Mary 
183 Mary 
262 Peter jr. 
275 Samuel 
299 Thomas 
306 John 
352 Susanna 
454 Oxenbndge 
THAYER 

321 Abigail 
THOMAS 

43 Mary 

44 David 

45 Susanna 
64 Lydia 

81 Jeremiah St. 

96 Elizabeth 

98 Mary 
105 Elizabeth jr. 
115 Hannah 
163 Miriam 
218 Susanna 
238 Henry 

249 Abigail 

250 Annah 
258 Noah 
271 Abigail 

281 Mary 

282 Mary 
298 Israel 

322 Mary 
328 Kenoni 
850 Eleazer 

385 Fhebe 

386 Sarah 

387 Abigail 

402 Sarah 

403 Asa 

424 William 

425 Benjamin 
452 Karzillai 
484 Elizabeth 
506 Elizabeth 
609 Lucy 
510 Lemuel 
532 Keziah 
544 Daniel 

546 David 

547 Churchill 
550 Deborah 
556 Mercy 
566 Thankful 
602 Abigail 
608 Nathan sr. 
638 Zilpah 

649 Perez 

650 Sarah 

669 Zenas 

670 Mary 
692 WUliaui 



THOMAS 

700 Edward 

701 Lydia 

702 Betsey 

736 Jacob 

737 Lucy 

738 Hope 

743 Silvanus 

744 Susanna 
785 Serena — 
869 Daniel 

884 Silas 

885 Eleazer 
887 Azel 
892 Phebe 
894 Betsey 

917 Hannah 

918 Seneca 

919 Hope 

920 Eunice 

921 Anna 

922 Lucia Ann 

923 Winslow 

924 Huldah 
95T Lothrop jr. 

958 Louisa F. 

959 Saba S. 

960 Mary Ann 

961 Mary H. 
1017 Phebe 

1071 Seneca R. 

1072 Zilpha B, 

1073 Melinda 

1074 Clarissa Jane 

THOMPSON 

9 Jacob 
10 Abigail 
134 Mary 
159 Mary 
235 Thomas sr. 

268 Caleb 

269 Abigail 
376 John 
418 Lydia 

669 Caleb jr. 

670 Mary 

581 William 

582 Deborah 

583 Isaac 

584 Lucy 

585 Freelove 
640 Otis 

655 Weltha 

656 Lydia 

705 Keuel 

706 Nathaniel 

722 Lydia 

723 Lucy 

724 Mary 

725 Irene 
730 Ezra 
770 Arad 

871 Marietta T. 

872 Cordelia 

926 Charles F. 

927 Florantha 
935 Cephas 
981 AnnaT, 

994 Venus 

995 Jane 

996 Benjamin 
1007 Sarah T. 
1027 Mary H. 

TILSON 
480 Ann 



TILSON 
515 Silence 

652 Calvin 

653 Joanna 
693 Calvin jr. 
739 Hannah 
796 Joanna 
873 Judith 

TINKHAM 

11 Ebenezer 

12 Elizabeth 
19 Hester 

24 Patience 

25 Priscilla . 
37 Mary 

40 Ephraim jr. 

46 Ephraim sr. 

72 Joanna 

74 Mary 

93 Isaac sr. 
112 Hannah 
145 Mary 
148 Seth 
214 Abijah 
267 Mary 
33f) Peter sr. 

337 Samuel 3d. 

338 Susanna 

345 Joseph 

346 John jr. • 

347 Hannah 

348 Priscilla 

349 Patience 

357 Martha 

358 Agnes 

359 Esther 
397 Hannah 
428 Ebenezer 
482 Ipaac 
519 Hannah 
526 Sarah 
651 Chloe 

577 Lucy 

578 Kuth 
692 Jeremiah 
695 Hannah 

601 Mary 
614 Elizabeth 
631 Sarah 

660 Squire 

661 Anna 
663 Silas 
771 John 
781 Orin 
806 Susanna 
831 Elizabeth 
901 Barbara 
933 Betsey 
938 Harvey 
985 Jane 

997 Oliver G. 
1058 Sarah Jane 

TISDALE 
605 Jacob 

694 Hannah 

TORRY 

690 Samuel 

691 Mary 
717 Lydia 

TOTIVTAN 

602 Experience 

TRIBOU 

695 Bathsheba 



TUCKER 

164 Benjamin 

165 Sarah 
327 Woodward 
489 Sarah jr. 
541 Benjamin jr. 
635 Samuel 

746 Jedidah 

757 Hannah 

912 Susanna 

933 Mandana 

TXIPPER 

176 Ichahod 
259 Thomas 
411 Rebecca 

TURNER 

456 Elizabeth 
616 PriscUla 

TYNER 
1075 Sarah 

VALLER 

606 Mercy 

VINICA 

998 Rachel 

999 DorliscaN. 
1000 Lydia 

VAUGHAN 

38 Joseph 

39 Joanna sr. 
92 Deborah 

113 John 

114 Jerusha 
131 Joanna 
166 Faithful 
230 Desire 
241 Hinksman 
297 Jabez 

319 John jr. 

320 Jerusha jr. 
351 Elisha 

363 Daniel 

364 Joseph 

371 Joanna 

372 Sarah 
396 Mercy 
503 Abraham 
567 Lucy 

1083 Salome 



WARREN 

174 Samuel 

175 Eleanor 
182 Priscilla 

343 Benjamin 

344 Jedidah 

511 Joseph 

512 Mercy 
659 Keziah 
696 John 

832 James 

833 Margaret 
908 Betsey 

1019 George 
WASHBURN 
' 539 Huldah 
559 Azel 

810 Abiel 

811 Elizabeth 

812 Abigail 

813 Caroline 

814 Louisa Jane 
946 Elizabeth H. 
982 Eunice 

I WESTON 

231 Edmund sr. 

232 Susanna 
300 Ehzabeth 
493 Hannah 
571 Priscilla 
613 Isaiah 
745 Priscilla jr. 
762 John 

777 Hannah 

778 Salome 

834 Thomas 

835 Abigail 

836 AbigaU jr. 

837 Bethania 

838 Lavmia 

839 Thomas jr. 
1066 Thomas jr. 

I WHITE 

160 Benjamin sr 
199 Ann 
1 WILBUR 

1018 Perry A. 
1 WILDER 

639 Ebenezer 
726 Mary 



WILDER 

727 Mary 
753 Susanna 
875 James D. 
1001 BathshebaL. 

WILLIAMS 

339 John 

340 Elizabeth 
481 Thomas 
770 Jabez 

I AVILLIAMSON 

412 Fear 
1 WILLIS 

487 Ebenezer 

488 Mary 
802 Ebenezer 
876 Jane 
940 Sabina 

I WING 

874 Betsey L. 
880 Lura 
902 Lauretta 
WINSLOW 

53 Nathaniel 

54 Elizabeth 
366 Susanna 

1 WOOD 

7 Abiel 

8 Abijah 
13 Samuel 
68 Ephraim 
71 Rebecca 
75 Jam^ . 
82 S^amuel jr. 
84 ^ijerience 

102 Sarah 
116 Elnathan 
118 Patience 
122 Mercy 
124 Elizabeth 

140 Timothy 

141 Mary 

177 David 

178 Joanna 
212 Thomas 
217 Jemima 
242 Sarah 
252 Hannah 
280 Sarah 



1 WOOD 

295 John jr. 
311 Ephraim jr. 
332 Bathsheba 

355 Ephraim 

356 Edmund 

377 Joanna 

378 Nathaniel - 

379 Ichabod 

380 Patience 
400 Samuel 
414 Lydia 
429 Lydia 
542 Elizabeth 
553 Rebecca 
672 Sarah 

697 Lydia 

698 Lucy 
713 Maria 
742 Abigail 

747 Israel 

748 Ichabod 
751 Elizabeth sr. 
762 Theodate 
768 Betsey 

783 Ichabod 2d 

784 Mary 

800 Elizabeth jr. 

801 Horatio G. 
877 Lydia 
911 Lucy C. 
934 Matilda 

947 Wilkes 

948 Charles W. 

949 Emily Louisa 
960 Mary T. 
953 William H. 

1002 Abigail T. 

1003 Mercy L. ^ 
1005 Mary C 
1008 Alfred jr. 
1014 Abiel 
1020 Mary 
1028 Eleanor B. 
1037 PhebeH. 

WRTGHTINGTON 
1040 Hope 

WRIGHT 

534 Cuffee 
630 Anna 



EXPLANATORY NOTICE. 



The Descriptive Catalogue contains the names of all persons who have 
been or are members of the First Church in Middleboro', including the 
successive pastors (p. 32), so far as records and other documents which 
the committee have been able to examine will show. 

The half-warj covenant, which was in practice from the earliest 
records until about 1760, has in some cases made it difficult to deter- 
mine the question of full membership. The existing church records 
do not give the admissions of all, as is evident from other proceedings 
of the church ; and the absence of all records (except the Fuller copy 
of the organization, p. 13) until 1708, makes it almost certain that a 
portion of the admissions of that period of thirteen years have not been 
ascertained. Much care has been taken to enrol none but members in 
full communion ; atod the committee are not sure but a few others, ex- 
cluded for want of fuller evidence, were not also members. 

It will be seen that the Catalogue is columnar in three respects, 
namely ; — the regular numbering of the whole church ; the dates of 
admission ; and the names of the members, followed by a particular 
notice of each ; — the whole occupying but one line when practicable. 
The order of the particular notices is as follows : — 

1. A reference to ancestry or kindred, or both, by abbreviations and 
the regular numbers if in the church, or by the christian name if not. 

2. Reference to the wife or wives by their regular numbers in par- 
enthesis, if members, or by their whole original name, if not. 

3. The year of marriage. 

4. Time of death and the age. 

This order varies only in the case of married women, where the 
name of the husband, or reference to his number, is placed next after 
her name, and the reference to kindred after her original surname. In 
a few instances, where nothing else is known of a member, one or more 
of their children has been entered in the hne. Members whose time 
of admission is unknown have been inserted near the time when they 
were found to have been such. 

The fourteen members, from Nos. 21 to 34 inclusive, were probably 
nearly all admitted during the time of which there are no records. 

The double dating of the years before Sept. 1752, is made to agree 
with New Style, but the day of the mouth conforms to the records. To 
bring these to New Style, add ten days to dates prior to the year 1700, 
and eleven days to dates occurring between 1700 and Sept. 2, 1752, 
when the New Style was first established in England. 

The reference to kindred used in this Catalogue of church members 
is extended to the Addenda at the end ; and the abbreviation ad. indi- 
cates such reference. 



ABBREVIATIONS. 







MONTHS. 


Ja. 


Ap. Jy. Oc. 


Fe. 


Ma. An. No. 


Mh. 


Ju. Se. De. 




KINDEED. 


/a. 


father 


gr.fa. . 






grandfather 


gr.gr. /a 






great grandfather 


mo. 






mother 


br. 






. brother 


eis. 






sister 


s. 






son 


dau. 






. daughter 


eki. 






child or children 


h. 






. husband 


to. 






wife 


wid. 






widow 


m. 






. married 


sr. 






senior 


jr- 






junior 




COUNTRIES. 


Eng. 


England 


Ir. 


Ireland or Irish 




TOWNS. 


Barnst. 


Barnstable 


Bridg'r. 








. Bridgewater 


Carv. 








Carver 


EaTx. 








. Halifax 


Plym. 
Plymt. 








Plymouth 








. Plymton 


Sandw. 








Sandwich 


Scitu. 








. Scituate 


War'm. 








. Wareham 



CHURCHES. 

C. C. C. Central Congregational Church 

of Middleboro' 
N. P. . North Parish, Middleboro' 
W. P. . West Parish, Middleboro' 



MISCELLANEOUS. 

abt. about 

ad. addenda 

oe. ... age* 

Afr. ..... African 

hap baptised 

bef. before 

h. bom 

chh church 

d. died 

dis. . dismissed to another church 

dea. deacon 

ex. excluded 

fr. from 

Ind. . . . . . Indian 

0. . original or maiden name 

p. ..... page 

re. removed from town, and no record 

of dismission 
re. in, resides in the town or State 

specified 
re-ad. readmitted to this church after 

dismission to another 

Rev Reverend 

M.F.. . . the May-Flower 

unc uncertain 

unm unmarried 



Figures in parentheses thus (2) refer to the regular number of the husband or 
wife ; when separated by a comma thus (2, 12) they indicate successive husbands 
or wives, and refer to them. Figures not in parentheses, and preceded by abbre- 
viations, refer to the ancestors or kindred indicated, thus fa. 20 shows the father 
may be found at No. 20. Remarks or references in brackets apply to the person 
preceding, and who is not a member of this church. 

The names of members admitted by letters of recommendation from other 
churches are followed, without the comma, by fr. and the name of the town or 
place. Names of churches are not usually given. 

* When either th., St., or d. follows the figures for 'the age, the person is suposed to have 
attained to within six months of the age stated ; without these additions, the exact a^e may exceed 
the figures six months, 



DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE, 



FROM THE ORGANIZATION IN 1695 TO 1853, 



A careful attention to the Explanatory Notice, p. 79, and to the table of abbrevia- 
tions, including the note respecting th. st, and d., on the opposite page, -will facilitate 
the understanding of this catalogue. 




11 






( REV. SAMUEL FULLER fr. Plym., ord. 1st Pastor. 

J (2) d. Au. 17, 1695, M. 71st. (p. 6, 32.) 

) Elizabeth Fuller, (1) o. Brewster, d. at Plymt. No. 4,1713. 
" The aged relict of Rev. Samuel." 

(John Bennet sr., (4) Bea. 1695, d. Mh. 21, 1718, x. 76. 
■} s. of Peter, of Bristol Eng.,arr. in Va. 1665; here, 1 692, 

/^ Deborah Bennet, (3) o. Grover, m. in Beverley, 1671, 

came here in 1692, d. Mh. 22, 1718, £e. 70. 
j Jonathan Morse, (6?) d. Jy. 9, 1709, je. 70th. 
I Mary Morse, (5), chi. 50. 

( Abiel Wood, s.of Henry, fr. Eng., (8) d.oc.lO,l7l9,£e.61st. 

I Abijah Wood, (7) o.Bowen, m.l683, d.Ma.21,1746, ag.83d. 

( Jacob Tomson, s.Jn. [fr.Eng.l623],(lO) d.Se.1,'26, as 64. 

(Abigail Tomson, (9) m. 1693, o. Wadsworth, dau. John 
and Abigail, d. Ja. 15, 1745, te. 74. 

C Ehenezer Tinkham sr., s. of Eph'ra, fr. Eng., (12) m. bef. 

] 1679, Dea. 1695, d. Ap. 8, 1718, «;. 7.3d. 

<• Elizabeth Tinkham, (11), o. Liscom, d. Ap.8, 1718, iE.64. 
Samuel Wood sr., br. 7, (71) d. Fe. 3. 1718, se. 70th. 
Isaac Billington, d. De. 11, 1709, se. 66th. 
Samuel Eaton; 4 chi. b. fr, 1695, d. Mh. 18, 1724, se. 61st. 
Samuel Cutbart, d. Ap. 17, 1699, se. 42. 
John Cobb Jr., (57), d. Oct. 8, 1727, se. 68th. 
Weibrah Bumpas, w. Joseph bef. 1670, d. Dec. 27, 1711. 
Hester Tinkham, (46), o. Wright? d. Ma. 28, 1717,*. 68tb. 
Deborah Barden, wid. 



82 



21 



22 
23 
24 
25 


being foun* 
the existini 
1 bef. 170^ 


26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 

33 


These fourteen persons, 
have been members, by 
coi-ds, doubtless admitte( 


34 


S f^ 




1709. 


35 


Nov. 2. 




1710. 


36 


Ja.22. 


37 


Ma. 7. 


38 


" 9. 


39 


Au. 20. 


40 


" 20. 


41 


« 20. 


42 


« 20. 


43 


« 20. 


44 


« 27. 


45 


Se. 9. 


46 


Oc. 28. 




1712. 


47 


De. 7. 




1713. 


48 


Fe. 15. 


49 


unc. 


50 


11 


51 


u 


52 


(C 


53 


Mh. 15. 


54 


" 15. 


55 


Au. 4. 


56 


Oc. 11. 



REV. THOMAS PALMER, 2d Pastor,(158) m.bef. 1699, 

chi. 142, 184, 296, d. Ju. 17, 1743, x. 78th. (pp. 6, 34,) 
(Jonathan Cobb, (23), Dea. d. Aug. 15, 1728, «. abt. 68. 
( Hope Cobb, (22), d. Jy. 26, 1728, se. abt. 76. 

Patience Tinkham,w.Eben'r, jr.,m.'03,o.Pratt, d.bef.Ju.5,'20. 

Priscilla Tinkham, w. Shubael, m. 1718, o. Childs, chi. 345, 

348. d. Jy. 11, 1739, tc. 45th. 
Elizabeth Lewis, wid. of James, d. Mh. 1744, ?e. 90th. 
Thomas Pratt, chi. Abigail, b. 1701, Hepzibah, b. 1705. . 

( John Fuller sr., fa. 1, br. 91, (29), chi.94. d.abt.l710, a}42. 

( Mercy Fuller, (28) m. 1686 ? o. Nelson, 2d m. Wm.Eaton. 
Mercy Barrows, (59), o. Coombs, sis.157, d.Mh.4,1718, «.44. 
Mary Lovell, w. of John bef. 1702, chi. 367, 413, 449. 

( John Alden, s. of Joseph & gr.s. of John of the M.F., (33) 
J m. bef, 1702, d. Se. 29, 1730, aj. 56th. 

/ Hannah Alden, (32) o. White, dau. Eben'r of Weymouth, 

d. Oct. 5. 1732, £E. 52d. 
Mary Lewis, w. of Eliezer, chi. Keziah bap. 1713. 

REV. PETER THACHER Jr., 3d Pastor, (47), chi. 183, 

262, 275, 299, 306, 352, 454, d. Ap. 22, 1744,.^. 56th. (pp. 35,7.) 

Margaret, (Afr.) servant of Jn. Alden, 32. 
Mary Tinkham. 

f Joseph Vaughan, s. of Geo. fr. Eng.,? (39) m. 1680, 2d m. 
•< 1720, to Mercy ruller,wid.ofJabez,o.Wood,d.Mh.2,'34,Ee.81st. 

^Joanna Vaughan sr., (38), br. 44, d. Ap. 11, 1718, aj. 61st. 
Ephraim Tinkham jr., fa. 46, br. 93, (447), m. 1708, d. Jy. 

11, 1713, ffi. 31st. 
Mary Fuller, (91), m. bef. 1710, o. Eddy, br. 61. 
Joanna Darling, w. Thomas sr., chi. Thomas b. 1704. 
Mary Thomas, w. Jona., m. 1703, o. Steward ; 4 chi. bap. 
David Thomas, " abt. 60 yrs. old," s. David, sis. 39, 1st w. 

Abigail bef. 1669, (96). 
Susanna Thomas, w. Wm. 2d., m. bef. 1711. 
Ephraim Tinkham sr., (19) m. 1678 ? d. Oc. 13, 1714, a3.66th. 

Mary Thacher, (35), o.Prince, fa.l20,d.Oc.l, '71,se.84.(p.36.) 

Elizabeth Hacket, w. John bef. 1712, [Bea. at W. P.] dis. 

1726 to W. P., d. Apr. 17, 1728, se. 42. 
Mary Haskell, w. John Jr., m. 1699, o. Squier, dis. 1727, 

to Killingly Ct. 
Mary Morse, mo. 6, m. Francis Moro, 1723. 
Eleanor Cleaves. A gr. chi. bap. 1721, bro't by her. 
Mrs. Raymond, styled "goodwiie" in 1709, and with No's. 

50, 51 and 6, "yielded grievances." 
( Nathaniel Winslow fr. Rochester, (54). 
( Elizabeth Winslow fr. Rochester, (53). 
Martha Soul, w. Jn.m. '01, o. Tinkham, d. Fe. 16, '58, ae. 80. 
Mary Caswell fr. Taunton. 



83 



1714. 

57Mh.28. 
|l715. 

58;Fe. 13. 
59 « 20. 

eolMa. 20. 



61 
62 
63 

64 

65 
66 
67 

68 

69 

70 

71 
72 

73 

74 
75 
76 

77 
78 
79 



Ju. 12. 

Jy. 10. 

" 17. 



17, 



Au. 



Au. 22, 
Oc. — 



1716. 

Ma. 27 

Au. — 



Rachel Cobb, (17), m. 1G88, o. Soul, d. Se. 18, 1727, x. 65th. 

Ebenezer Richmond, m. bef. 1701, Re. to W. P. 

Samuel Barroios, (30), 1st m. bef. 1702 ; 2d w. Joanna,Z)ea. 

1725, d. De. 30, 1755, si. 83d. 
(Melatiah Eddy, (61) m. 1703, o. Pratt, d. 1769, ai. 92. 
\ Samuel Eddy sr., s. of Obadiah, sis. 41, (60), d.l752, te. 77. 
Ebenezer Redding, (123, 131), d. May 5, 1751, a?, ab't 72. 
Jonathan Smith, m. Susanna Thomas 1713, (154), chi. 318, 

360, d. Se. 6, 1767, te. 79th. 
Lydia Thomas, (81) m. 1684, o. Rowland, dau. Isaac, sis. 595, 

d. Jy. 6, 1717, se. 52d. Ist burial in The Green Cemetery. 
Mary Allen, (76) m. bef. 1708 in Bridgwater. 
Charity Leonard, wid. ; m. J. Perkins of Norwich 1722. 
Samuel Sampson, d. Sep. 10, 1744, se. 75th. [w. Mercy, o. 

Eddy, br. 61, d. 1743, se. 77th.] 
Ephraim Wood, fa. 13, br. 82, m. Susanna bef. 1710, (2d 

w. 118), Dea. 1725, d. Jy. 9, 1744, aj. 65th. (p. 53.) 
Esther Southworth, w. of Ichabod bef. 1713. \_he d. Se. 13, 

1757, se. 79th.] 
Lydia Cobb. 



Rebecca Wood, (13) m. bef. 1679, d. Fe. 10, 1718, je. 67th. 
Joanna Tinkham, wid. Jeremiah Jr. bef. 1711, [his fa. 11.] 
2d. m. 1720, (ad. 31.) 
26. Elizabeth Nye, w. Ichabod bef. 1713 ; chi. Sam'l b. 1715. 
Oc. 7. Mary Tinkham ; m. Henry Wood 1717 ; chi. Moses, &c. 
Nov. 4. James Wood, br ? 7. (84?); chi. bap., Benj., Barna., Abel^Ich. 
25. Nathaniel Allen, s. of Sam'l of Bridg'r, (65), 1st w. Bethiah 
Conant, m. 1696 ; chi. 228, 305, 326. 
Nathan Clark, ra. Jemima ; chi. Ichabod b. 1716. 



" 25 
Dec. 2 



80 

81 
82 

83 
84 
85 
86 

87 



89 
90 



1717. 

Jan. 2. 
1718. 

Ma. 4. 
4 

June 1. 
Jy. 20 
Au. 10. 

" 10. 

« 10. 

1719 

Mh.l9. 
June 9. 
No. 15 



John Drew sr., (99), chi., ad. 32, 33 ; dis. 1734 to Hal'x. 
Ichabod King fr. Scitu., 2d m. 1716, (83), 1st w. Hannah, 
[d. 1716, 33. 36 yrs.] dis. 1733 to Rochester. 

Hannah Morton, dau. Jn., sis. 131, 134, (125?). 

.leremiah Thomas sr., (64, 98), d. Fe. 2, 1736, a?. 77th. 
Samnel Wood Jr., fa. 13, br. 68, (124, 242), Dea. 1737, b. 

1684, d. bef. 1754. 
Judith King, (79), wid. Gibbs bef., dis. 1733 to Rochester. 
Expe rience Wood . (75?) o. Fuller, fa. 1, brs. 28, 91. --M£ 7. 
Abigail Barden, (88), chi. Sarah b. 1695, Abigail, &c. 
Joseph Bates, (144, 474), 2dm.l743, d.Au.31,1778, a3.86th. 
James Raymond, m. Mercy Tinkham, 1716, 2d w. (187), dis. 

1753, with w. and dau. 373, to Pomfret, Conn. 

Stephen Barden sr., (85), chi. Wm. b. 1697, &c. (ex.1727.) 

David Delano sr., m. 1706 Elizabeth Eddy. 

Abigail Smith, m. Eb. Dunham '19, dis. bef. 1731 to Plym. 



84 



91 

92 


1720. 

Mh. 6. 
Dec. 4. 


93 


1721. 

Mh. 12. 


94 


« 12. 


95 


*' 12. 


96 
97 

98 


" 12. 

Ma. 14. 

" 14. 


99 


Oc. 15. 


100 


1722. 

Mh.ll. 


101 
102 
103 


Apr. 8. 
" 16. 

« 29. 


104 
105 


" 29. 
Ju. 14. 


lOG 


Sept. 9. 


107 


« 9. 


108 


Oc. 17. 


109 
110 
111 
112 
113 
114 
115 
116 


1723. 

July 1. 
" 1 
" 1. 

" 1 

" 1 

" 21. 

De. 15. 


117 
118 

119 


1724. 

Mh. — 
May 3. 
Ju. 30. 


120 


Oc. 25. 


121 


" 25. 


122 


Nov. 8. 



Isaac Fuller, fa. 1, (41), chi. Isaac b. 1712. d. 1727, ge.abt.50. 
Deborah Vaughan, (297), m. 1711, o. Bennet, fa. 3, br. 147, 
d.Ap. 26, 1761, £e. 79th. 

Isaac Tinkham sr., fa. 46, br. 40, 595, ad. 60, (214), dis. 1734 

to Hal'x ; Deacon in Hatx. d. Ap. 7, 1750, le. 65th. 
( Ebenezer Fuller, fa. 28, br. 156, sis.151, (95), m.bef.l716. 
) copyist,(pp.l.3,14),he & w. dis. '34 to Hal'x., d.'85'? as 98th, 

I Elizabeth Fuller, (94), o. Short, b. 1693 in Weymouth, 

dau. of Luke jr., gr. fa. 197. 
Elizabeth Thomas sr. fr. Plymt. (44), m. 1718, o. Canedy. 
Hannah Fuller, (156), o. Thomas, dis. 1734 to Halifax. 
Mary Thomas fr. Taunton, (81) m. 1720, bef., wid. Durfee, 

d. Nov. 15, 1749, se. 85th. 
Sarah Drew, (78), chi. Abigail b. 1721, dis. 1734 to Hal'x. 

Abigail Eddy, w. Benj'n, [br. 61, 234] m.bef. 1717; 2d m. 

1747 to Elisha Hayward. 3d m. 1752. (161). 
Elizabeth Conant, w. Josiah, m. 1701, o. Washburn. 
Sarah Wood, w. John sr., chi. Stephen b. 1712, David, &c. 
Elizabeth Fuller, gr. fa. or fa. 1, m. John Eaton 1729, dis. 

1731 to Kingston. 
John Raymond sr., " in 74th yr."; d. Ju. 5. 1725, a?. 77th. 
Elizabeth Thomas, fa. 8 1, sis. 219,242, m. John Tomson '23. 
dis. 1734 to Hal'x. d. Aug. 1776, je. 86th. 
r William Strowbridge fr. Donaugh Ir. (107), Re. 1725 
^ to W. P., d No. 14, 1777, a;. 87, 

J Margaret Strowbridge fr. Donaugh Ir., (106), dis. 1726 
•^ to W. P., d. De. 8, 1776, se. 83. 

Sarah Rogers ; probably m. Samuel Ford in Marshfield. 

(Andrew Mansfield fr. 1st ch. in Lynn, (110). 

( Sarah Mansfield fr. 1st ch. in Lynn, (109). 
Mary Bumpas, w. Joseph,[b.l674.]m. bef. 1713.[fa.d.l705.] 
Hannah Tinkbam fr. Scitu., (176), d. Ap. 13, 1771, a?. 91st. 

( John Vaughan, fa.38, (114),m.l718, d.Ma.8,1770, £e.78th. 

\ Jerusha Vaughan, (113), o. Wood, fa. 7, b. 1695, d., «. 90? 
Hannah Thomas, (ad.23.) m. 1721, o. Turner, chi.,2 s., 7 dau. 
Elnathan Wood, fa. 7, m. Mary Billington 1712, 2d. w. 

1735 (380), d. Ap. 20, 1752, x. 66. 

Nathan Prince, fa. 120, sis. 128, d.Jy.25, '48,8e.50. (p.57.) 

Patience Wood, (68), m. bef. 1724, chi. 332, & Manassah. 

Joanna Cobb, " on her bed at her house," (421 ), m. bef. 1714, 

o. Thomas, dau. Wm. sr.,br. ad. 23, d. No. 1 1 , 1 724, a;. 32d. 

f Samuel Prince Esq. fr. Sandwich, (2d w. 121), d. Jy. 3, 
^ 1728, se. 80, (p. 56.) 

I Mercy Prince fr. Sandw. (120), dau. Gov. Hinckley, m. 

^ bef. 1687, d. Ap. 25, 1736, a. 73. chi. 47, 117, 128, 129. 

Mercy Wood, w. of Abiel Jr., o. Hacket, m. 1718. 



85 



123 

124 
125 
126 
127 

128 
129 

130 
131 

132 

133 
134 

135 



1724. 

No. 29. 

1725. 

Ma. 30. 
Jy. 4. 

" 29. 
" 29. 

Se. 5. 



« 5. 
Oc. 3, 

1726. 

Ma. 1. 

« 1. 
Jy. 17. 

No. 27. 



1727. 

136 Jan. 8, 



137 
138 
139 
140 

141 
142 

143 



144 
145 
146 

147 
148 
149 
150 
151 
152 
153 



Ja. 22. 
22. 

22. 
Jy. 30. 

" 30. 
De. — 

De. — 

1728. 

Ja. 28, 
28, 
28, 

Mh.lO 
10, 
10. 
10, 
10. 
17. 
24. 



Mercy Redding, (62) m. 1706, o.Miller, d. Mh.31, '28,ae.43d. 

Elizabeth Wood, (82) m. bef. 1717, chi. Joshua, Ann, &c. 
Nathan Bassett fr. Sand'h, (80?) ; Dea. in Mr. Weld's chh. 
Ann Cavender, (266) m. bef. 1731, chi. Catharine, b. 1731. 
Mercy Morton, (ad. 58), m. bef. 1722, o. Foster, d. Ap. 4, 

1782, £6. 84th. (p. 57). 
Mercy Prince, fa. 120, sis. 47, 129, d. Au. 9, 1748, ae. 48th. 
Alice Prince, fa. 120, sis. 128, m. Samuel Gray of Harwich, 

d. July 4, 1733, as. 31st (p. 57.) 
Sarah Ransom, w. Robert ; chi. Wm., Robert, &c. bap. '29. 
Joanna Vaughan, wid. Elisha, o. Morton, sis. 80. 2d m. (62). 

Samuel Barrows Jr., fa. 59, br. 208, (133). He & w. dis. 
I 1740 to Killingly Ct. ; 6 sons and 2 daughters. 

( Susannah Barrows, (132), chi.fr.l724, Sarah,Geo,Sam.&c. 
Mary Tomson, (235), m. 1715, o. Morton, dau. John, sis. 80, 

dis. 1734 to Hal'x, d. Mb. 20, 1781, se. 91st. 
Nathaniel Southworth, (137), m. bef. 1710, d. Ap. 8, 

1757, 36. 72. 



Experience Sproat, " wid. of Lt. Ebenezer who with her was 

propounded in July last." [Hed. Sep. 28, 1726, ae. 52d.] 

"I was, (says Mr. Thacher,) by an illness of 11 weeks, 

disenabled to proceed with them." Her 2d, m. 1731 to 

Francis Miller, d. JMov. 19, 1758, ae. 74th. 

Jael Southworth, (135), o. Bennet, d. No. 9, 1745, ae. 67th. 

Ezra Clap fr. Milton, (139). d. Se. 20, 1761, se. 68th. 

Waitstill Clapfr.Milton.(138),o.Tucker,d.Jy.31,'68 ae.73d. 

Timothy Wood, fa. 7, (141). Both dis. 1734 to Hal'x. d. 

Au. 22, 1756, aj. 63. 

Mary Wood, (140) m. bef. 1726, d. May 12, 1756, ae. 

Samuel Palmer, fa. 21, mo. 158, sis. 184, br. 296, dis. 1731 
as Pastor at Falmouth, Mass. 

Abigail Sproat, mo? 136, m. Rev. John Wadsworth, of Can- 
terbury, Ct., 1729, d. 1778, se. 71. (pp. 35, 54.) 

Joanna Bates, (86) m. '17, o. Tinkham, d. Ju.28,1738, ae.42d. 
Mary Tinkham, (148) m. bef. 1726, d.Ju. 16,1745, «. 43d. 
Silence Fuller, w. of Samuel, m. 1726, o. Short, b. 1704, 

dau. of Luke jr., gr. fa. 197. 
Samuel Bennet sr., fa. 3, sis. 92, (221) chi. Samuel, b. 1710. 
Seth Tinkham, s. Peter & Mercy,(145),d.Fe.9,1751, «.47th. 
Thomas Darling, mo. 42, br.365, (265), d.No.2.1792, ae.88th. 
Lydia Hackett, w. Geo. m. 1724, o. Thomas, b. 1694. fa. 81. 
Lydia Fuller, fa. 28, (226) m. 1733. 
Patience Mechaan, wid. of Duncan, dau. 291, bap. 
Hannah Par^ow, wid. of Thomas, m. 1722, o. King.; 2d m. 

1740 (161), d. Ap. 5, 1750, se. 48. 



86 



154 
155 
156 

157 

158 
159 

160 
161 

162 
163 
164 
165 
166 
167 
168 
169 
170 
171 
172 

173 

174 
175 
176 
177 

178 
179 

180 

181 

182 
183 



184 



1728. 

Ma. 12. 

12. 

June 6. 

Jy. 14. 

14. 
Oc. 13. 

No. 17. 

" 17. 

1729. 

Mh.24. 

24. 

24. 

24. 
Apr. 6. 
" 6. 
« 6. 
« 6. 
« 20. 
" 20. 
" 27. 

« 27. 
July 6. 
6. 
6. 
6. 
6. 
6. 

6. 

Au. 10. 
« 10. 
" 10, 

1730. 

Ja. 18, 



Sarah Smith, (63) m, '25, o. Churchill, d. Ju. 5, 1744, ^. 48. 
Mercy Fuller, m. — Ford, " dis. 1761 to clih. in Paquague." 
John Fuller, fa. 28, (97, 244), 1st m. 1719, dis. 1734 to 

Hal'x. d. 1766, se. 74. 
Lydia Miller, w. John, m. 1702, o. Coombs, dau. Francis, 

[who d. 1683.] d. Mh. 6, 1735, x. 56th. 
EhzabethPalmer, (21) d. Ap. 17, 1740, a?. 64th. 
Mary Tomson, fa. 9, br. 268, sis. 180. m. Reuben Tomson, 

dis. 1734 to Hal'x. d. Jy. 19, 1769, x. 58. 
Benjamin White sr. Esq., (199), d. De. 10, 1750, vc. 67th. 
James Smith, (153) 2dm.'52 (100),d.Se.9,'63,cB.72d (p.23.) 

Ephraim Dunham, m. Annas Smith 1725, s. Jona. b. 1726. 
Miriam Thomas, w. Jer'h, jr., o. Thomas, d.Ja.lO, '68, 8e.73d. 

( Benjamin TucJcer, (165) Dea. 1745, d. Jy. 9, '81, m. 76th. 

i Sarah Tucker, (164) o. Woodward, d. Mh. 13, '79, se.67th. 

Faithful Vaughan, (ad. 34), m. 1720 ? d. Ap. 5, '53, ss. 66th. 

Elizabeth Gibbs. chi. Jabez, bap. 

Meriba Delano, b. 1709, dau. Nathan, m. C. Dexter, 1731. 

Ann Delano, sis. 168 probably. 

Abraham Barden sr., (181), chi. 229, Joseph, Isaac. 

Daniel Caswell, (192), chi. Mary, Deborah, Jael ; bap. 

Sarah Elmes, w. Ignatius, m. 1728, o. Bennet, dau. Eben'r. 

gr.fa. 3. d. Jy. 1789. x. 82. 
Elizabeth Drew, dis. 1734 to Hal'x., d. No. 14, 1779. 

( Samuel Warren, (175) m. 1704. chi. 182, Samuel, James. 

I Eleanor Warren, (174), o. Billington. chi. Nathan, &c. 
Ichabod Tupper, (112 ?) m. 1729. 
David Wood, s. David, (178) m. 1720, d. Jy. 29, '38, se.50. 
Joanna Wood, (177) o. Tilson, chi. Edmund, David, &c. 

f Nehemiah Bennet, s. John jr., gr. fa. 3, (180) m. 1721, d. 



Au. 15, 1769, re. 74th. 



185 
186 

187 
188 
189 

190 



18. 
18, 

Jy. 19, 

" 19, 

Aug. 7, 

No. 22 



! Mercy Bennet, (179) o. Tomson, fa. 9,d. Se. 4, 1799,36. 99 

I yrs. 10 mo. 11 days. (p. 58.) 

Mary Barden, (170) m. bef. 1698, chi. Mary, 203. Sarah. 
Priscilla Warren, b. De. 12, 1704, fa. 174, br. 343, 511. 
Mary Thacher, b. 1711, fa. 35, m. Rev. Nathan Stone, 1751, 
dis. 1753 to Southboro'. (p. 36.) 

Elizabeth Palmer, b. 1704, fa. 21, m. Eben'r Cheney, d. bef. 

1780. Their dau. Afary m. Jn. Morey & d. here, 1821. 
Martha Knowlton, (188), 1st chi. at Ipswich, b. 1712. 
Mary Billington, w. Isaac, [Hisfa.l4.] m. 1730, o. Dunham, 

d. Ju. 24, 1777, ffi. 72d. 
Elizabeth Raymond, (87) bef. 1724, dis. 1753 to Ct. 
Thomas Knowlton, (185) d. Ju. 22, 1755, re. 69th. 
Anibal Canedy, chi. Hopestill & Sarah bap.; 2d m. bef. 1739 

to Paine. 

Elizabeth Ellis, (ad. 53), m. 1715 ? d. Ap. 3, 1753, se. 66th. 



87 





1731 


191 


Ma. 23 


192 


Ju. 20 


193 


« 20 


194 


Aug. 8 


195 


' 8 


196 


" 8 


197 


Se. 23 


198 


Oc. 10 


199 


« 10 


200 


" 10 




1732. 


201 


Ja. 23. 


202 


« 23. 


203 


Apr. 1. 




1733. 


204 


Mh.l9. 


205 


Ap. 29. 


206 


« 29. 


207 


" 29. 


208 


unc. 


209 


u 


210 


» 


211 


u 


212 


u 


213 


(C 


214 


ii 


215 


July 1. 


216 


« 1. 


217 


« 1. 


218 


" 1. 


219 


" 1. 


220 


« 1. 


221 


Aug. 5. 


222 


" 5. 


223 


« 5. 


224 


" 5. 


225 


« 5. 


226 


Se. 30. 




1734. 


227 


Mh.l7. 


228 


Ap. 28. 



Hannah Pratt jr., w. Eleazer jr., o. Short, dau. Luke jr., gr. 

fa. 197, d. Se. 4, 179.3, ve. 82. 
Marj Caswell, (171) m. bef. 1732. 

Obadiah Sampson fr. Marshfield, fa. 67, (206), chi. fr. 1737. 
Ichabod Standish, (198), dis. 1734 to Hal'x, d. Fe. 29,1772. 
( Moses Sturtevant fr. Plymt., (196), s; Consider, b. 1733. 
\ Elizabeth Sturtevant fr. Plymt., (195) s. Jos. b. 1734. 
Luke Short sr., chi. Luke. here. d. 1746, ve. 116, (p. 59). 
Phebe Standish fr. Plymt., (194) m. 1719, o. King, dis. 

1734 to Hal'x. 
Ann White, (160), m. bef. 1727, d. Se. 13, 1778, se. 81st. 
Phebe Pratt, w. Benaiah bef. 1737, d. Mh. 5, 1800, sd. 88, 

( Samuel Lyon, (202), chi. 329, d. Fe. 22, 1756, je. 76th. 
( Joanna Lyon, (201), o. Bates ? No chi. recorded here. 
Elizabeth Barden, mo. 181., b. Oc. 1, 1702. m. Sampson? 

Esther Barden, (229), m. '26, o. Sampson, fa. 67, dis. '37. 
Elkanah Rickard, 1st w. Ketura bef. 1730 ; chi. Nath'l, '30, 

Elkanah 1732, (2d w. 233), re. to Bridgewater. 
Mary Sampson, (193) m. 1731, o. Soul, d. 1743. 
Mary Bennet, w. Isaac, m. 1732, o. Drew; 4 sons & 2 daus. 
Coombs Barrows, fa. 59, m. '29 & '32, d. No. 30, '75, se. 71st. 
Barnabas Grossman, (253) m. bef. 1729 ; 5 sons & 2 daus. ; 

d. Oc. 1, 1744, £6. 44th. 
Ichabod Paddock, (261), m. bef '23, d. Au.26, '50, se. 64th. 
Lemuel Donham, (260), m. 1735 ; 6 sons & 3 dau's. 
Thomas Wood, fa. 7, m. Hannah Alden, 1729. [Her fa. 32.] 

d. Ja. 27,1745, sa. 42d. 
John Raymond jr., fa. 104, 1st. m. bef. 1703, 2d m. 1726. 
Abijah Tinkham, (93), o. Wood, fa. 7, dis. 1734 to Hal'x. 

d. De. 25, 1777, x. 88th. 
Eleaner Bennet, b. 1711, fa. 147, sis. 216, m. Z. Whitman, 

of Bridg'r, 1733, d. No. 10, 1777, se. 66. 
Ruth Bennet jr., b. 1714, fa. 147, m. Jona. Snow, 1746. 
Jemima Wood, b. 1712, fa. 116, br. 355, sis. 263, 414. 
Susanna Thomas. 
Thankful Cobb, w. James, m. 1718, o. Thomas, fa. 81, sis. 

242, 105, d. Ap. 17, 1743, ce. 48th. 
Sarah Gumee ; or Gurnee ; perhaps Gurney. 
Ruth Bennet sr., (147) ra. bef. 1710, o. Perry ; chi. 215, 216. 
( David Alden, fa.32, (223) m.bef 1728, d.Au.24,1763, se.Ql. 
\ Judith Alden, (222) o. Paddleford, d. 1802, a;. 94th. 
Bethiah Sampson, (ad. 44) m. 1727, o. Clark. 
Mary Hayford, (239) m. bef. 1728. 
Francis Eaton, (ad. 38) m. 1727, 2d w. (151). 

Jane Pratt. 

Bethiah Lyon, w. Eleazer, m. 1732, o. Allen, b. 1708, fa. 76. 



88 



229 

230 
231 
232 

233 
234 



235 

236 
237 
238 
239 
240 

241 



242 

248 
244 

245 

246 

247 

248 
249 

250 
251 

252 
253 
254 
255 
256 
257 
258 
259 
260 



1734. 

Ju. 10, 

Au. 11. 
" 11. 
" 11. 

Se. 29. 
" 29. 

Oc. 10. 

10. 
10. 
10. 
10. 
Nov. 3. 

« 21. 

1735. 

Ap. 20. 

Ju. 12. 

" 12. 

« 12. 

Se. 28. 
1736. 
Ja. 11. 



Ap. 11. 
Ju. 13. 

13. 
13. 

July — 



>« 



Se. 



Abraham Barden jr., b. 1698, (204), 1st ra. Priscilla Alden 

1722, dis. to Stafford, Ct. 1737. 
Desire Vaughan, (241) m. bef. 1733, d. Se. 10, '84, se. 89tb, 
( Edmund Weston sr.fr.Plymt.,(232,300),d.Ap.29, '73,^.76. 
< Susanna Weston fr. Plymt., (231) m. bef. 1723, o. Jackson, 
( d. No. 4 1734, re. 28th. 

Betbiah Rickard, (205) m. 1733, o. Conant, dau. Nath'l. 
Jabez Eddy sr. fr. Carv.,*br. 61, cbi. 450, Moses 263. "dis. 

Se. 6. 1749 to unite with members of Rev. Mr. Shaw's 

chh. at Titicut." 
Thomas Tomson sr., s. John fr. Eng., br. 9, (134), dis. '34 

to Hal'x. d. Oc. 26, 1742, sn. 78. 
( Ebenezer Cobb, (237), dis. 1734 to Hal'x. 
1 Lydia Cobb, (236), m. bef. 1731, dis. 1734 to Hal'x. 
Henry Thomas, m. Ruth Nelson 1726, chi. 452. 
Benjamin Heyford Sr., (225), sons Benjamin, John, Jacob. 
Ebenezer Finnea fr. Norton, (246), Dea. 1737, d. Sept. 21, 

1745, ffi. 47th. 
Hinksman Vaughan, b. 1708, mo. 131, (230). 3 sisters b. 

July 1, 1711 ; also 3 sons b. June 1, 1735. 

Sarah Wood, (82) m. '30, 1st h. Isaac Howland, o. Thomas, 

sis. 105,219. d. Ap.3, 1756, se. 68. 
( Samuel Eddy jr., fa. 61, (244) m. '33, d. '46, a. 36. (p. 58.) 
] Lydia Eddy, (243) o. Alden, fa. 32, br. 334, 223, sis. 271, 
( (2d h. 156,) d. Mh. 1, 1803. je. 92. 

Bennet Redding, (439) m. 1734, o. Eddy, fa. 61, br. 243, 

341, sis. 412. d. Jy. 15, 1797; se. 83? 
Jane Finnea fr. Norton, (240) ; chi. 354, Lewis, &c. 

Jabez Fuller, b. 1717, s. Jona. m. Hannah Pratt 1744, gr. 

fa. 1 ; Re. to Medfield ; himself & 3 chi. Tho., Jabez & 

Jona., Physicians. 
Fear Barrows, (ad 57) m.'36, o.Thomas,d.No.2,'61,ae.40th. 
Abigail Thomas, w. Edward jr., m. 1720, o. Parlow, d. Oct. 

13, 1756, se. 62d. 
Anna Thomas, w. Eben'r, m.l731, o. Ransom, d. 1763,ae.52d. 
Elizabeth Griffith, w. Jesse, m. 1723, o. Bent; dis. 1742 to 

Plymt, d. 1743, se. 37? 
Hannah Wood, 2d. w. John sr., m. 1731, o. Chiles. 
Hannah Crossman, (209) m. bef. 1729. 
Mercy Raymond, (393) m. bef. 1732. 

Alice Raymond, (325) m. 1729, o. Bent, dau. Experience? 
( Hezekiah Purringlon, (257) ; chi. Joshua, Sam'l, Jn. 
\ Mercy Purrington, (256) m. 1735, o. Bates, b. '19, fa. 86. 
Noah Thomas, s. Edw'd sr.,br.608, (281) d.De.20, '58, a;.49. 
Thomas Tupper, (411) m. 1735, re. to Munson, Ms. 1797? 
EHzabeth Donham, (211), o. Tinkham, br. 337, sis. 357, 

433, d. se. 63. 



Then and until 1792 called " The second Church in Plymton." 



89 



261 

262 



1736, 

Oc. 21, 

1737. 

Ap. 24. 



263 Jy. 17 



264 



Se. 24. 



265 


No. 6. 




1738 


266 


Ap. 16 


267 


Oc. 12 




1739 


268 


Fe. 17 


269 


'■ 17 


270 


Ma, 13. 


271 


" 13. 


272 


Jy. 1. 


273 


" 1. 


274 


" 1. 


275 


" 1. 




1739. 


276 


Au. 19. 


277 


Se. 16. 


278 


Oc. 14. 


279 


" 28. 




1740. 


280 


Mh.il. 


281 


Ju. 15. 


282 


" 15. 




1741. 


283 


Ma. 7. 


284 


" 7. 


2.>-'5 


" 10. 


286 


" 10. 


287 


" 10. 


288 


Ju. 21. 


289 


" 21. 


290 


(I 21. 


291 


Au. "2. 



Joanna Paddock, (210), 0. Faunce, d. May 4, 1758, se. 68. 

(p. 59.) 

Peter Thacher Jr., fa. 35, dis. 1748 to Attleboro, Pastor 
there; m. 1749 Bethiah Carpenter, d. Se. 13, 1783, oe. 
70th, (p. 36.) 

Jedidah Eddy, w. Moses [fa. 234], m. 1735, 0. Wood, fa. 
116, d. Mh. 9, 1788, ae 73. 

Waitstill Miller, (409), o. Clap, d. Au. 27, 1754, ae. 38th. 

Rebecca Darling, (149) m. bef. 1725. 

John Cavender, (126) ; dau. Catherine b. 1731. 
Mary Tinkham. 

( Caleb Tomson, fa. 9, (269), d. Ja. 10, 1787, as. 75. 
j Abigail Tomson, (268) ra. bef. 1737, 0. Crossman, d. No. 
( 23, 1791. je. 77th. 

John Pratt, s. Sam'I, m. H. Turner, 1725, 2d. w. 1729, 

(466?) 
Abigail Thomas, w. Nathan (608) m. 1735, o. Alden, fa. 

3-2, d. Ja. 1744, a;. 29. 
Gersham Cobb,h. 1714, fa. 421, br. 419, sis. 377, (455) Dea. 

1745, Re., & d. in old ag:e, in Hardwick, Mass. 
Thankful Benhet, (ad. 50) m. 1724, 2d. m. Seth Samson 

1758, o. Sproat. 
Ruth Barrows, w. Sylvanus bef. 1738 at Barnst., dis. to 

"Wendham," 1755. 
Samuel Thacher fr. Plym., fa. 35, m. Debo'h Bennet 1747, 

2d. w. Sarah bef. 1759,3d. m. 1779 Catherine Stephens, 

d. Mh. 21, 1795, ffi. 78th. 

Mary Fuller. 

Else Caswell, m. Benj'n. Heyford ? 1752. 

Joanna Jackson, (335) m. 1735, o. Bates, b. 1718, fa. 86. 

Mary King, (ad.61)m.l732,o.Green,dis.l747 to Turkey ,N.J. 

Sarah Wood, (295) m. bef. 1739, dis. 1744 to Berkley. 
Mary Thomas, (258) m. 1733, o. Alden, fa. 32, br. 222, 334, 
427, sis. 271, 244, d. Au. 1, 1787, se. 75th. 

Mary Thomas, (424) m. bef. 1733, d. Au. 4, 1768, si. 58th. 

Mary Griffeth fr. Rochester. 

JMartha Morse fr. Carver, w, Jona. d. 1805, x. 95. 

( Shubael Lewis fr. Carv. (286); cbi. vSamuel b. 1739, &c. 

\ Plazadiah Lewis fr. Carv. (285), 0. Eddy, b. 1712, fa. 234. 
Jacob Burges fr. Yarmouth 2d. chh., m. bef. 1741. ' 

( Joshua Donham fi\ Carv. (289.) 

\ Keturah Donham fr. Sandw., (288) m. 1740, o. Barlow. 
Lydia Crocker fr. Carv., w. Theopholus bef. 1731. 
Christiana Raymond fr. Bridg'r.,(460), 0. Machaan, mo. 152, 
12 



90 





1741. 


292 


Au 


16 


293 


Dec. 6 


294 


u 


6 


295 


a 


6 


296 


ii 


6 




1742 


297 


Jan 


. 3 


298 


(( 


3 


299 


« 


3 


300 


(( 


3 


301 


(C 


3 


302 


(( 


3 


303 


ii 


3. 


304 


Ja. 


10 


305 


ii 


10 


306 


ii 


10 


307 


ii 


10 


308 


'a 


10 


309 


a 


16 


310 


a 


24 


311 


a 


24 


312 


a 


24 


313 


a 


24 


314 


ii 


24 


315 


a 


24 


316 


a 


24 


317 


ii 


24 


318 


Fe. 


14 


319 


(( 


14 


320 


a 


14. 


321 


a 


14. 


322 


a 


14. 


323 


a 


14. 


324 


a 


14. 


325 


a 


14. 


326 


a 


14. 



James Sproat, mo. 136, br. 323, Pastor (p. 54), d. 1793, 

33. 71. 

William Lyon, (389); s. Elisha b. 1744, Daniel b. 1761. 
Nathan Bassett Jr., fti. 125, 1st. av. bef. 1730, 2d. w. (302.) 
John Wood Jr.,b. 1716, (280), dis. 1744 to Berkley. 
Job Palmer, fo. 21, br. 142, sis. 184, d. Ja. 1, 1746, ss. 26th. 

Jabez Vaughan,fa. 38, br. 113, (92) d. Ap. 13, 1773, ge. 91st. 
Israel Thomas, mo. 402, sis. 119, (391), d. Ju. 29, 1778, aj. 65. 
Thomas Thatcher, fa. 35, unm., d. De. 10, 1744, se. 24th. 
Elizabeth AVeston, (231) m. 1735, o. Smith? 
Elizabeth Ames, wid. of Seth, 2d. m. 1742 (312), o. Prince 

dau. of John, gr. fa. 120, d. 1753. 
Thankful Basset, (294) 2d. w. bef. 1740. 
Peggy, (Ind.) m. Tom (Afr.) 1741, servants of E. Leonard. 
Timothy Fuller, b. 1721, br. 247, dis. 1766 to Attleboro'. 
Mary Allen, b. Mch. 4, 1715, fa. 76, br. 326. 
John Thacher, b. Ap. 27, 1723, fa. 35, brs. 262, 275, 299. 
Hannah Cox, (398)m. 1721, o. Smith, d. De. 18, 1777, aj. 78? 
Rebecca Southworth, (ad. 82) m. 1741, o. Ellis, mo. 190, br. 

John 384, d. Ju. 19, 1781, £e. 60th. 
Rachel Smith, (360) m. 1738, o. Cobb, mo. 219, sis. 379, d. 

Mh. 2, 1767, ffi. 47. 
Joseph Bates Jr., b. 1722, fa. 86, sis. 257, 278, m. Eunice 

Tinkham 1749, dis. 1787 to Hartland, Vt. 
Ephraim Wood Jr., fa. 68, br. 400, sis. 332, m. Mary Lazell 

1742, 2d. w. (442) m. 1752, d. De. 14, 1781, aj. 66th. 
Joshua Lazell, (301), s. Prince b. 1745, dau's Elizabeth 

and Mary; d. in Bridg'r, 1749. 
Deborah Smith, (ad.65), o. Barden, d. Ja. 9, 1801, te. 93d. 
Prince, (Afr.), (416) m. 1747, serv't of Eben'r Morton. 
Else Antony, (Ind.) d. about 1790. 
Abiel Leach fr. Hal'x, (435) m. bef. 1739, d. Oc. 2, 1787, 

ffi. 87tb. 
Jonathan Snow fr. Bridg'r, m. Sarah Soul 1728, 2d. m. 

1746 to Ruth Bennet ; gr. fa. of Aaron, d. 1783. a-. 81. 
Jonathan Smith Jr., b. Fe. 14, 1716, (417) m. 1737, fa. 63, 

br. 360, dis. 1753 to Boulton. 
John Vaughan Jr., b. Ap. 5, 1720, fa. 113, br. 364, 351, 

sis. 320, 478, 395, 405. 

Jerusha Vaughan, fa. 113, (346) m. 1743, d. No. 25, 1787, 

s&. 66. 

Abigail Thayer, b. 1718, dau. of Isaac, m. L. Kitts, 1754. 

Mary Thomas, m. James Willis 1759, 

Ebenezer Sproat, mo. 136, br. 292, (332), d. Ja. 23, 1786, 

se. 69th. 
Thomas Felix Jr., (Indian.) 

Barnabas Raymond, b. Ma. 21, 1710, fa. 213, br. 393, (255). 
David Allen, b. 1713, fa. 76, sis. 305, m. Fear,— bef. 1745, 

[who d. 1753, se. 53d ] 



91 



1742 


Mi 


1. 7 


(( 


7 


u 


7 


u 


7 


u 


7. 


i( 


7. 


(( 


7. 


(( 


7. 


(( 


7. 


(( 


7. 


u 


7. 


u 


7. 


u 


7 


(1 


14 


u 


U 


(( 


U 


K 


14 


u 


14. 


li 


14. 


ii 


14. 


a 


14. 


a 


14. 


a 


14. 


u 


14. 


u 


14. 


u 


14. 


(C 


14. 


(k 


14. 


ii 


28. 


ii 


28. 


a 


28. 


ii 


28. 


ii 


28. 


ii 


28. 


ii 


28. 



Woodward Tucker, "aged 9 yrs." fa. 1G4, br. 541, 635, sis. 

489, m. Mercv Tinkham 1756, d. Ap. 12, 1761, a. 28th, 

(p. 63.) 
Benoni Thomas, unra. d. about 1750 ? 

Jedediah Lyon, fa. 201,(-589)m. 1743, d.Fe, 9, 1807, se. 86th. 
Patience Raymond, b. No. 11, 1724, fa. 87. 
Mary Hathaway , dis. 1745 to Berkley. 
Bathsheba Wood, fa. 68, (323) m. 1749, d. Ju. 28, 1798, 

se. 74. 
David Sears, (399, 347) m. 1734 & 1781, chi. Zebedee,&;c. 
Noah Alden, fa. 32, br. 222, 427, (371); dis. 1749 to 

Stafford, Pastor at Bellingham, d. 1797, re. 71st, (p.5.5) 
John Jackson Jr., (278) Re. to St. of Maine, d. 1811, re. 95. 
Peter Tinkham sr., mo. 24, gr. fa. 11, (ad.40) m. 1730, d. 

Oc. 10,1745, ffi. 36. 

Samuel Tinkham 3d., gr. gr. fa. 46 sis. 357, 260, 433, (436) 

m. Patience Simmons 1760, d. Mh. 28,l796,£e. 72,(p.71). 

Susanna Tinkham, mo. 595, br. 346, sis. 359, 347, m. Jas. 

Cobb 1749, d. Ju. 21, 1813, aj. 88. 
John Williams. No early records of this name. 
Elizabeth AVilliams, m. Jabez Eaton 1759 ? 
( Zachariah Eddy, fa.61,br. 243,(342) d. De. 6, 1777, re. 66. 
j Mercy Eddy, (341) m. 1737, o. Morton, mo. 127, d. Au. 

' 25, 1802, ce. 80. 

( Benjamin Warren, fa. 174, (344) m. '41, d. Ja. 1802, re. 81. 

I Jedidah Warren, (343) o. Tupper, d. Oc. 20, 1807, re. 83d. 

Joseph Tinkham, mo.25, (358) m. 1740, d. Ap. 28,1767,re.45. 

John Tinkham Jr., mo. 595, (320) d. Au. 22, 1793, re. 74. 

Hannah Tinkham Jr., mo. 595,br. 346, sis. 338, (364, 333), 
Ist.m. 1742. 2d. m. (ad.63),3d.ra. 1781, d. Ap. 14, 1802,^.79. 

Priscilla Tmkham, mo. 25, br. 345, (419, 368) m. 1743,1751, 
d. Ap. 5, 1769, aj. 43d. 

Patience Tinkham, (356) m. 1744, d. Ap. 9, 1791, re. 74th. 

Eleazer Thomas,mo.45, br.425,424, m. Mary Shaw Jr.,1746, 
d. Se. 23, 1808, ce. 83. 

Elisha Vaughan, fa. 113, br. 364, (359) m. 1746, b. De.l723. 

Susanna Thacher, b. 1719, fa. 35, br. 262, 275, 299, 306, sis. 
183, m. Samuel Tucker of Milton, 1742. 

Deborah Redding, b. 1722, fa. 62, br. 426, 439, 467, sis. 410. 

Nelson Finney, fa. 240? m. Martha Simmons 1749, Rosa- 
mond Thomas 1755 ; d. Ju. 22, 1781, x. 53d. 

Ephraim Wood, fti. 116, (448) m. 1743, d. No. 8, 1783, re. 68. 

Edmund Wood, fix. 177, (349) m. 1744, d. De. 29, 1805,re.84. 

Martha Tinkham, br. 337, (878) m. 1742, d. Mh.20, 1744, 
va. 24th. 

Agnes Tinkham, b. 1721, mo. 72, br. 428, (345, 477) m. 
1740, 1769 ; a 3d. m ? o. Mackfun, alias Maxwell. 

Esther Tinkham, b. 1721, mo. 595, br. 346, sis. 338, (351). 

Samuel Smith, fa. 63, br. 318, (309), d. De. 16, 1781, re. 67. 

Susanna Leach, re. 9 yrs. fa. 316, d. Mh. 22, 1751, re. 18. 



92 





1742. 


362 


Mh. 28. 


363 


u 


28. 


364 


il 


28. 


365 


a 


28. 


366 


a 


28. 


367 


u 


28. 


368 


<( 


28. 


369 


Ap 




370 


" 




371 


a 




372 


« 




373 


(( 




374 


(( 




375 


(( 




376 


« 




377 


(( 




378 


a 


11 



379 



380 



15. 



" 15. 



381 « 15 

382 Ma. — 
383 
384 



385 
386 
387 
388 

389 
390 
391 
392 
393 
394 
395 
396 
397 



Ma. 27 



Elijah Clap, fa. 138? br. 437 ? (375) m. 1741, d. 1790. 
Daniel Vaughan, fa. 297, sis. 371, (372), d. Ja. 8, 1812,!e.99^ 
Joseph Vaughan, fa. 113, br. 319, (347) m. 1742, b. eTa. 26, 

1719, d. abt. 1746. 
John Darling,mo. 42, br, 149 ?(423)m.l721; liad 8 ss.&odaus. 
Susanna Winslow, wid. James m. 1732, 2d. ra. 1744, to Jesse 

Bryant, o.Conant, rao. 101, sis. 422,(1. Ap. 17, 1801, a3.90th. 
-John Lovell Jr., b. 1702, mo. 31, br. 449, (408) m.bef.l729. 
MVilliam Cushraan, (369, 348) m. '35, '51, d. Au. 27, 
) 1768, se. 53d. 

( Susanna Cushman, (368) o. Sampson, d. Se.l3,1749,a5.33. 
Mary Fuller, dau. Jonathan and Elinor, b. 1725, br. 217. 
Joanna Vaughan, fa. 113, br. 319, 351, 364, sis. 320, 395, 

(334) m. 1744, b. 1725, dis. 1749 to Stafford. 
Sai'ah Vaughan, (363) m. 1735, o. Cushraan, d. Fe. 1, 1791. 
Elizabeth Raymond Jr., b. 1728, fa. 87, sis. 330, m. 1745 

Silas Rickard, dis. 1749, to Pomfret, Ct. 
Japheth Rickard, m. Martha bef. '55, re. d. No. 25, 1798. 
Hope Clap, (362) o. Thomas, dis. 1792 to Brookfield. 
John Tomson, s. of Shubael, (418)? d. Ju. 22,1766, od. 49. 
Joanna Wood, (400) m. 1737, o. Cobb, b. 1715, fa. 421, br. 

272, 419, Re. to Hadlej, Mass. and died in old age. 

Nathaniel Wood, fa. 82, br. 379, (357), 2d. m. 1744 Mary 

Winslow, dis. 1783 to Woodstock, Vt., d. 1803, ve. 78. 
Ichabod Wood, fa. 82, br. 378, m. 1743 Thankful Cobb, mo. 
219, 2d. m. 1777 Priscilla Thomas, mo. 250, d. Au. 8, 
1787,03.68. 

Patience Wood (116) ra, 1735; 1st. h. Ichabod Cushman sr., 

d. Se. 8, 1755, a^, 65th. 
Elizabeth Lewis, wid. (prob.) of Jas. m. 1716, o. Parlow. 
Joseph Rowland. 

Martha Chummuck, (Afr.) chi. James bap'd. (415) m. 1748. 
Elizabeth Ellis Jr., w. John, o. Coomer, 8 chi. b. fr. 1742, 

to 1759, d. Mh. 3, 1781, ce. 60th. 

Phebe Thomas, w. Jabez, bef 1737, d. Fe. 12 1772, se. 58. 
Sarah Thomas, w. Eph'm. bef. 1740,d. Fe. 20, !810,jE.89th. 
Abigail Thomas, prob. w. Nath'l. sr., m. bef. 1722. 
Prudence Knowlton, w. John, m. 1742, o. Thomas, b. 1722, 

mo. 387. 

Martha Lyon, (293) m. 1740, o. Knowlton, b. 1718, fa. 188. 
Sarah Lyon, br. 293 ? sis. 391 ? 

Phebe Lyon, (298) m. 1742, br. 293? d. Ma. 27, 1795,ai.72d. 
Sarah Smith, fa. 63, (467?) m. 1747, d. De. 8, 1777, an. 50th. 
Ebenezer Raymond, b. 1703, fa. 213, (254) m. bef. 1732. 
Eleazer Pratt Sr., (407) chi. Eleazer b. 1705. 
Mercy Vaughan, b. 1727, fa. 113, m. Jos. Barden Jr. 1747. 
•Joanna Pratt, wid. 
Hannah Tinkham, (428) m. bef 1739, o. Shaw,d. Se.5,1794. 

X, 79th. 



93 





1742 


398 


Ma. 27 


399 


ik 


27 


400 


n 


27 


401 


(( 


27 


402 


u 


27 


403 


i( 


27 


404 


Ju. 


13 


4U5 


(( 


20 


406 


(( 


20 


407 


(( 


20 


408 


a 


20. 


409 


a 


20. 


410 


li 


20. 


411 


a 


20. 


412 


Jy. 


4. 


413 


u 


4. 


414 


(( 


4. 


415 


ii 


4. 


416 


ii 


4. 


417 


ii 


4. 


418 


ii 


4. 


419 


ii 


4. 


420 


ii 


4. 


421 


ii 


7. 


422 


a 


7. 


423 


ii 


7. 


424 


Au 


19 


425 


it 


19 


426 


ii 


19. 


427 


a 


19 


428 


a 


19 


429 


a 


19 


430 


a 


19 


431 


ii 


19 


432 


a 


19 


433 


a 


19 


434 


ii 


19 


435 


ii 


19 


436 


Oc. 


8. 



John Cox Sr., (307) ra, 1721, d. Ju. 5, 1761, re-. 6Ctk 
Phebe Sears, (333) m. bef. 1734, d. Oc.9, 1779, te. 67th. 
Samuel Wood, fa. 68, br. 311, sis. 332, (377) m. 1737, a. 

Jy. 12, 1750, se. 37. 

Solomon Alden, b. 1728, fa. 222, d. abt. 1813, x. 84? 

Sarah Thomas, 2d. w. and wid. of Wm. sr., m. 1705, o. Bar- 
den, d. Ma 9, 174.5, ». 62d. 

Asa Thomas, b. 1721, mo. 249, brs. Hushai. Zadock, Sec. 

Ephraira Donham Jr., fa. 162, (433) ra. 1741, d. abt. 1750. 

Nathaniel Bnmpas, b. 1717, mo. Ill, m. Abiah Vaughan 
[her fa. 113] 17.52. 

Samuel Pratt 3d. m. Wilberce Bumpas 1741, (ex. 1783.) 

Hannah Pratt Sr., (394.) 

Lydia Lovell, (307) m. bef. 1729, chi. Peter, Jam^s, &c. 

John Miller Jr., (264) m. 1732. d. Ma. 27, 1759, a;. 47th. 

John Cox Jr., m. Lydia Redding '46, d. Jy. 6, 1770, te. 47th. 

Rebecca Tupper, (259) m. 1735, o. Bumpas, b.l713,rao.l 11. 

Fear Williamson, w. Geo. Jr., m. '38, o. Eddy, fa. 61, Re. 
to N. J. 

Thankful Lovell, bap. 1723. mo. 31, br. 367. 

Lydia Wood, b. 1722, fa. 116 ? m. Benj'n. Shelley ? 1745. 

Sambo, (Afr.), (383) m. 1748, serv't. of the Pastor. 

Jenny, (Afr.), (314) m. 1747, serv't. of Peter Bennet. 

Experience Smith, (318) m. 1737, o. Cushman. 

Lydia Tomson, (376?) m. bef. 1742, d. Ja. 28, 1761,a3.39th. 

John Cobb Jr., br. 272, sis. 377, (348) d. Ju. 22, 1750, fe. 28. 

Seth Harris, m. Abiah Alden, dau. Samuel, dis. 1759 to 
Bridg'r., d. in Abington, 1797, se. 74? 

( John Cobb Sr., fa. 17, br. 219, sis. 447, (119, 422) m. bef. 

< 1714, and 1725, d. Jy. &, 1750, x. 61. 

( Mary Cobb, (421). o. Conant, mo. 101,d.Au.l6,1795,£e.92d. 
Elizabeth Darling, (365) o. Bennet, d. Ja. 22, 1774, ae, 73. 
William. Thomas Jr., mo. 45, br. 425, (282) d. Ju.7,'64,te 53d. 
Benjamin J^iomas fr. Carv., mo. 45, br. 424, 350, (484), Dea, 

1776, d. Ja. 18, 1800, ae. 78, (p. 60 ) 
John Redding, fa. 62, br. 439, 467, sis. 353, m. Sarah— bef. 

1748, d. Au. 14, 1750, ss. 31st. 

John Alden, fa. 32, br. 222, 334, m. Lydia, bef. 1740, m. 
Rebecca Weston 1750, d. Mh 27, 1821, re. 102, (p. 61.) 
Ebenezer Tinkham, mo. 72, (397) d. No. 17, 1801, je. 87th. 
Lydia Wood, (ad.45) ra. 1728, o. Lovell, d. Oc. 3,1789,?e.83. 
Hannah Cox, fa. 398, br. 410, sis. 431, 506, m. Benj. PhiHps, 

1749, dis. 1776 to Ashfiekl. 

Mary Cox, b. 1725, fa. 398, m. Joseph Thomas 1746. 
I^Uzabeth Canada, (ad.48) m. '27, o. Eaton, b. 1701, fa. 15. 
Mercy Dunham, (404), 2d. m. to Joseph Besse 1756, o. 
Tinkham, dau. SamnelJr., br.337,d. Fe. 16,I811,aB 85th. 
Patience Cobb, m. Wm. AVinslow, '47, dis. 1784 to War'm. 
Sarah Leach fr. Bridg'r., (316), d. Ma. 21, 1795, a3. 87th. 
Hope Cobb. fa. 272, (337) m. 1745, d. Ju. 3. 1760, ». 33d. 



94 





1742. 


437 


Oc. 8. 


438 


« 8. 


43y 


Oc. 16. 


440 


De. 5. 


441 


" 5. 


442 


« 5. 


443 


« 5. 


444 


" 5. 


445 


unc. 


446 


unc. 




1743. 


447 


Mh. 13. 


448 


" 13. 


449 


'• 13. 


450 


« 13. 


451 


" 13. 


452 


Ma. 5. 


453 


'' 5. 


454 


" 5. 


455 


Ju. 16. 


456 


" 16. 


457 


Jy. 28. 


458 


" 28. 


459 


" 28. 


460 


Se. 8. 


461 


" 8. 


462 


" 8. 


463 


" 8. 




1744. 


464 


Fe. 5. 


465 


" 5. 


466 


« 5. 


467 


" 5. 




1745. 


468 


Mh. 28. 




1746. 


469 


Mh. 2 


470 


2 



Manasseh Clap, br. 362, ra. Rebecca Cusbmaa 1744, d.Mh. 

17, 1757, fe. 32(1. 
David Delano Jr., fa. 89, m. Deborah Holmes 1745. 
William Redding, fa, 62, br. 426, (245), d. Oc. 6, 1791, ge. 85. 
j Samuel Pratt Jr., b. Ma. 15, 1697, (441,604), 2d.m.l751. 
I Jerusha Pratt, (440) m. bef. 1726, d. bef. 1751. 
John Soul Jr., mo. 55, sis. 465, 471, m. Mary Leach 1750, 

[2d. h (311)1 d. Fe. 19, 1751, as. 46th. 
Margery Leonard, m. Eben'r. Briggs of Taunton, '46. 
Peru, (African). 
Ichabod Cushman, mo. 380, sis. 589? m. Patience McFunn, 

alias Maxwell 1751, d. 1768, te 52. 
John Leonard Sr., m. Abigail — bef. 1735, d. abt. 1775. 

Martha Simmons, w. Aaron m. 1716, (1st. h. 40) o, Cobb, 

fa. 17, br. 421, d. Au. 8, 1775, a;. 84. 
Hannah Parlovv, b. 1725, mo. 153, (355) m. 1743. 
Joseph Lovell, mo. 31, m. Patience Barrows 1751? d. Fe. 11, 

1796, an. 79. 
( Jabez Eddy Jr. fr. Carv., b. Ap. 14, 1700, fa. 234, (451). 
( Patience Eddy fr. Carv., (450) o. Pratt. 
Barzillai Thomas, fa. 238, (506) ra. 1757, only chi., Bar- 

zillai, d. No. 5, 1813, ve. 82, (p. 61.) 
Mercy Hall, dis. 1750 to Raynham. 
Oxenbridge Thacher, b. July 11, 1725, fa. 35, removed. 
Meletiah Cobb, (272) m. 1727, o. Smith, b. 1705, dau. J'n. 

sr. & Mary; re. to Hard wick. Both d. in old age. 
Elizabeth Turner, w. Japheth, m. 1725, o. Morse, 
j Thomas Raymond Sr., (458). 

(^Mary Raymond, (457) m. bef. 1708; 9 sons & 4 dau's. 
Amos Raymond, b. 1710, fa. 457, m. Susanna bef. 1733, 6 

chi.; re. to Matha's Vineyard. 
Peter Raymond, b. 1718, fa. 87, (291) m. 1739. 
Joseph Parker. He was here in 1749. 
Sarah Jackson, br. 335, m, Jacob Green 1746; 5 s., 3 dau's. 
Calliminco, (Afr.,) m. Anna; serv't of the Pastor. 

Rebecca Soul, mo. 55, d. Ja. 24, 1759, vd. 46 ; or dau. James 

and Lydia, d. Ju. 22, 1747, se. 47. 
Rachel Soul, mo. 55, m. Eb. Vaughan '44,d.Se. 4, 1778,05.59. 
Elizabeth Pratt, wid. (270 ?) m. bef. 1729. 
Thomas Redding, b. 1727, fa. 62, (392), dis. 1784 to Keene. 

REV. SYLVANUS CONANTfr.? 4th Pastor, (3d.w.492), 
d. De. 8, 1777, x. 58th, (p. 36.) Tradition says, 1st. w. 
Bethan '^ of Boston ; 2d. w. Williams of Koxbury. ( See 
Notes at end.) 

( Ebenezer Cobb fr. Falmouth, (470). 
(Mary Cobb fr. Falmouth, (469). 



95 



471 



472 



1746. 

Ju. 22. 

1747. 

Au. 16. 
1748. 

473 Fe. 14. 
474De. 25. 
475 " 25. 



476 



1749, 

Ja. 15, 



1750, 

477 Ju. 3 

478 Se. 2, 



479 

480 
481 
482 
483 
484 

485 
486 



487 
488 
489 
490 

491 

492 

493 

494 

495 
496 
497 



No. 18. 

1751. 

Mh. 24. 

Oc. 6. 
1754. 
Mh.31. 
1755. 

Au. 24. 
1756. 

Ap. 11. 

1757. 

Jy. 3. 

Oc. 16. 

1758. 

Ju. 25. 

" 25. 

« 25. 
Au. 13. 

« 13. 
" 13, 

Oc. 1. 
1759. 

Au. 12. 
1760. 

Ma. 11 

" 11 
Jy. 20 



Esther Soul fr. Ilal'x., br. 442, unm., d. Ma. 15, 1703, aj. 86. 
Priscilla Booth, w. John sr., bef. 1721, s. John &c. 

Thomas Cole Sr., d. Ma. 16, 1759, ve. 57th, s. Thomas &c. 
Mary Bates fr. Barnst., (86), o. BJossom.d.De 30,1750,aj.42. 
Hannah Pumroy fr. Hal'x., br. 485, m. Jn. Eddy 1760 ; 2d. 
m. to Jn. Bradford 1765, d. in old age. 

Abigail Faunce fr. Bridg'r., w. James m. 1747, 2d. m. Jn. 
Jacobs 1766, o. Rickard, d. Mh. 29, 1777, ss. .54th. 

Samuel Benson fr.War'm.,m. Keziahbef '30,2d.ni.'69(3o8). 
Joanna Redding, w. Moses m. 1745, o. Vaughan, fa. 297, br. 

363, d. Ap. 1805, ffi. 85^. 
Mary Savery, w. Thomas m. 1738, o. Williams, dis. 1758 to 

to Andover, Ct. 

Ann Tilson fr. Barnst., w. John (ad.89?) gr., s. 652, o. Ham- 

blin, resided in Carver, and d. in old age. 
Thomas Williams. 

Isaac Tinkham fr. Hal'x., fa. 93, (519) d. Oc. 28, 1779, ^.59. 

Elkanah Shaw, s. of George, (527), d. De. 31, 1805, je. 81. 

Elizabeth Thomas fr. Carv., (425) m. bef. 1743, o. Church- 
hill, sis. 629, d. De. 26, 1804, se. 80th. 

Francis Pumroy Jr., m. Sarah Nye of Plymt. 1763, sis. 475, 

chi., Dr. John d. in Vt., 1844 JE. 80 ; Hannah b. 1766. 
Bethiah Freeman fr. Sandw., w. Josiah bef. 1725, o. Hall, 
dau. of Elisha, d. Mh. 4, 1812, as. 90th. 

( Ebenezer Willis Sr., (488) m. 1753, re. to Hardwick. 
(Mary Willis, (487) o. Jackson, dis. to Hardwick, 1801. 
Sarah Tucker, fa. 164, br. 327^ unm. d.Ap. 11, 1773, a?. 42. 
John Briggs fr. Hal'x., (491), m. Ab. Morse 1703,d.l8l0? 

re. 99. 
Remember Briggs fr. Hal'x., (490) m.l740,b.l719,fa.213. 
Abigail Conant fr. Norwich, (468) o. Huntington, dau. Col. 

Hczekiah of Ct. d. Ja. 3, 1759. ae. 28. 
Hannah Weston. 

Thankful Redding, fa. 439, unm. d. Ja. 11, 1810, te. 74. 

( Ichabod Morton (496), Dea. 1782, d. Ma.l6,1809,£e.85th. 
\ Deborah Morton, mo.l27,(495) m.'49, d.No.l7,1789,ffi.59. 
Deborah Cushman, wid. John Jr., ra. 1746, b. 1729, fa. 325. 



96 



11761.1 

498 Ju. 14. Desire Morse, mo. 284, sis. 574, bap. 1743. 
1762. 

499 Ap. 4. IcliabocI Billington, b. 1737, mo. 186, m. Bette Peck, 1758. 



500 
50] 
502 



505 

506 

507 
508 

509 



511 
512 
513 



July 4 
'' 4 
Oc. 3. 
1763. 
Mh.27. 



( Stephen Powers, (501) re.toVt. ( cW., Susanna, Mary, Stephen, 

i Lydia Powers (500), o. Drew. } L""! •""'"' •^"""'' "-^ "" '''"'^- 
Experience Totman, w. Samuel ? chi. Samuel, bap. 



503 Mh.27. Abraham Vaughan, f\i. 241, m. Ann Russell 17 G4, d. Se. 14, 
1811, se. 76. A tri-hirth with Ebcn'r. (JbEUsha, b. 1735. 

504 Ju. 19. ( John Leach, (505) m. 1759, 2d. m. 1785 Rebecca Sturte- 
vant-,, d. No. 9, 1822, a3. 85, (ex. 1803.) 

19. t Betty Leach, (504), o. Vaughan, fa. 363, d.Ap. 21, '73,ai.36. 
Jy. 10. Elizabeth Thomas, (452) m. 1757, o. Cox, fa. 398, br. 410, 
sis. 430, 431, d. 1814, a. 82. 
10. Mercy Purrington, b. 1737, fa. 256, br. Joshua, Jn. &c. 
Auof. 7. Sarah Redding Jr., " age 10 yrs," fa. 467, m. Jas. Tinkham 
1770 [liis fa. 592], d. Ap. 2, 1774, x.. 22d. 
28. Lucy Thomas, w. Hushai ra. 1756, o. Vaughan, dau. of 
David, d. Oc. 31, 1822, £e. 84. 
5l0|Oc. 30.|Lemuel Thomas, mo. 163, m. 1750 Mehitable Weston, d. 
Ja. 26, 1776, sd. 53d. 
30. ( Joseph Warren, b. 1715, fa. 174, (512) m. bef. 1757. 
30. \ Mercy Warren, (511). Both dis. 1771 to Ashfield. 
De. 25. Fear Redding, fa. 439, m. Nehemiah Holmes 1771, dis. 1773 
to Plymt. d. here Mh. 6, 1816, se. 69. 



514 
515 

516 
517 
518 



1764. 

Ap. 22. 

" 22. 

1765. 

Ja. — 

Au. 18 
Se. 29 



519 
520 Ju 



1766. 

Mh.20. 



521 

522 
523 
524 

525 



8. 



Au. 17. 
1767. 
Ju. 17. 
17. 
No. 1. 

1768. 

Ap. 3. 



Elenor Billington, w. Nath'l. m. 1756, o. Warren, dis. 1789 

to Ashfield. 
Silence Tilson, w. Timo. o. Whitting; chi. Timothy bap. 

Nathan Eddy, fa. 243, m. Eunice Sampson 1757, [sis. 538], 

d. in N. Y. State, 1813, m. 80. 
Phebe Leach, wid. of Samuel m. 1750, o. Rickard, 2d. m. 

1766 to Joshua Willis. 
Abijah Cobb, w. Nathan m. 1753, o. Tinkham, fa. 93, br.482, 

d. Fe. 5, 1776, sd. 48th. 

Hannah Tinkham, (482) m. bef. 1754. o. Robbins, mo. ad. 

35, d. Jii. 11, 1780, £6. 51st. 
Consider Brannack, m. Desire Simmons, [b. 1744, dau. of 

David sr.] 1764, re. to Vt. 1789. 
Catharine Maxfleld fr. Carv., wid.,d.after 1790? in old age. 

( Ebenezer Briggs fr. Hal'x. (523), d. Fe. 18, 1795, as. 68th, 
\ Abigail Briggs fr. Harx,(522) o. Bryant, d. 1808, a;. 8.S. 
Elkanah Elmes, b. '29, mo. 172, m. Sarah Lazell '50. 
(Ex. 1803.) 

Mercy Cobb fr. Barnst., wid. of Silvanus of Barnst., chi.628, 
644, d. Mh. 4,1781, £e. 75th. 



97 



11770.1 
526 Ja. 14.|Sarah Tinkham, wid. Eph'm. m. bef. 1758, o. Standisli, 2d.- 
m. Adam Wright of Plymt. 
Elizabeth Shaw, (483) m. bef. '50, d. Au. 19, 1786, ss. 61st. 



527 

528 

529 
530 
531 
532 



533 
534 
535 

536 
537 
538 

539 



540 
541 

542 
543 
544 



545 



546 



547 

548 

549 
550 
551 



Se. 2 
1771. 

Ja. 13. 

20. 

20. 
Fe. 24. 
Ju. 

1773. 

Fe. 24, 

Mh.28 
Au. 8 

Se. 18 
« 18 
" 26 

1774. 

Au. 7 

1776. 

Ju. 30 

Se. 8. 

Oc. 6. 
1777. 

Ap.l6. 

1780. 

Jy. 30. 

1781. 

De. 5. 

Au. 21. 
21 



« 21 

1782. 

Ap. 28, 

" 28, 
" 28 



Peter Oliver Jr., son of Judge O., (531) chi. Margaret H. b. 

1771, Thomas H. b. 1772, Peter b. 1774; Re. 1775, d. 

in Eng. in 1822, £e. 81. 
j Thomas Shaw, (530) m. bef. '71, d. in the army,1778,iB.40. 
(Mary Shaw, (529) o. Atwood, d. Ja. 10, 1808, ss. 71st. 
Sarah Oliver, (528) o. Hutchinson, dau. Gov. H., Re. 1775. 
Keziah Thomas, w. Jedediah Jr., m. 1749, o. Churchill, sis. 

484, 629, d. Ju. 21, 1800, £E. 67th. 

Edmund Maxham, m. Rebecca Faunce 1771, 3 sons b. 
Cuffee Wright, (Afr.), (630), d. Fe. 22, 1796, se. 44th. 
Samuel Eddy, fa. 243, br. 516, m. Re. to N. Y. State, d. 

1821, se. 79th. 
( Ichabod Carey fr. Bridg'r., (537), Re. to Chesterfield ? 
I Hannah Carey fr. Bridg'r., (536), m. 1741, o. Gannett? 
Bachelor Bennet, m. Mary Sampson 1764, Re. to Vt. 

Huldah Washburn, w. Jonah m. 1756, o. Sears, b. Au. 10, 
1737, fa. 333, dis. 1787 to Randolph, Vt. 

Margaret Bryant, w. Micah m.'70,o. Paddock ; Re. to St. Me. 
Benjamin Tucker Jr., b. 1738, fa. 164, m. Mary Thomas 

1760, dis. 1786 to Randolph, Vt., d. x. 77 1 
Elizabeth Wood, w. Nathan m. 1757, o. Shaw ; Re. to Vt. 

Susanna Eddy, fa. 243, br. 535, unm. d. Jy. 29, '17, se. 81st. 

Daniel Thomas, fa. 258, m.Thankful— bef. 1778, 2d. m. Mary 
Jakok bef. 1781, d. Ma. 14, 1789, £e. 46th. - 

REV. JOSEPH BARKER, 5th Pastor, (579, 760), s. of 
Joseph, of Branford,Ct,b. Oc. 19, 1751, chi. 714, 788, d. 
Jy 25, 1815, a;. 64th. (p. 41.) 

David Thomas, b. 1742, fa. 424, br. 743, m. Deborah How- 
land 1764, 2d. m. Mary Thomas, wid. (544), dis. 1793 to 
Woodstock, Vt. 

Churchill Thomas, mo. 532, m. Hannah Cushman, dau. 
Joseph, d. De. 31, 1809, 33. 48. 

Susanna Cushman, w. Zenas, o. Wild, d. Mh. 18, 1830, se. 86. 



Isaac Morse, s. Jonathan Jr., mo. 284, gr. gr. fa. 5, m. Je- 
mima Pratt bef. 1769, d. Se. 22, 1832, sa. 91st. 

Deborah Thomas, w. Joseph Jr., m. 1770, o. Thomas, b. 
1736, mo. 386 ; Re. to Vt. 

Chloe Tinkham, w. James m. 1777, o. Rickard, dau. Sam'l. 
or. and Sarah, d. De. 29, 1822. se. 68. 

13 



98 



552 


1782. 

Ap. 28. 


553 


Ju. 2. 


554 


" 30. 


555 


" 30. 


556 


Jy. 7. 


557 
558 


« 7. 
" 7. 


559 


" 21. 


560 


No. 17. 


561 
562 


" 17. 
" 17. 



563 

564 
565 

566 

567 

568 

569 

570 

571 

572 

573 
574 
575 

576 
57 7 



De. 1. 

1783. 

Ja. 5. 

« 26. 

Jy. 27. 
Au. 3. 

" 10. 

1784. 

Ja. 18. 

16. 

18. 

Fe. 22. 

22. 
Ma. 16. 
Au. 29. 

1785. 

Ma. 22. 

Au.21 



578 " 28 



Ruth Barrows, mo. 274, m. James McFarland 1793, d. Fe. 

20. 1808, te. 51. 

Rebecca Wood, w. Lemuel m. 1765, o. Tuppei*, b. 1743, fa. 

259; Re. to N. Y. State. 
Sarah Soule, wid. Wm. m. 17G2, o. Briggs, br. 490, 522, 2d. 

m. to Timothy Cobb, d. No. 4, 1820, ce. 80th. 
Lydia Soule, b. 1763, mo. 554, m. Alvin Robinson 1792, 

dis. 1803 to Sumner, Me. 
Mercy Thomas, w. John m. 1752, o. Shaw, sis. 645 ; dis. 

1803 to Woodstock, Vt., wid. 
f William Shaw, (558), br. 572, d. Mh. 7, 1807, se. 68. 
< Lydia Shaw, (557), o. Soule, dau. Jacob sr., d. Ju. 10, 
( 1826, se. 84. 

AzEL Washburn, b. 1764, mo. 539, dis. 1789 to Royalton, 

Vt., d. 1841, X. 77, (p. 54.) 
Sarah Miller, wid. of Elias m. 1732, o. Holmes, d. Se. 28, 

1800, te. 89th. 
Elizabeth Brown fr. Eastham, w. Thomas, Re. to Vt. St. 
Thankful Sampson fr. Eastham, w. Israel, m. 1780, o. Mar- 
tin, d. Se. 24, 1831, te. 82. 
Abner Bourne, mo. 575, br. 587, (568), m. bef. 1770, Dea. 

1796, d.Ma. 25, 1806, te. 59th. 

Susannah Smith Jr., fa. 360, (747), d. Ju. 24, 1824, te. 72. 
Mercy Cushman, w. Noah, m. 1769, o. Soule, dau. Jabez, d. 

Mh. 24, 1788, x. 40th. 

Thankful Thomas, mo. ad. 85, (648) m. bef. 1792, d. Fe. 27, 

1847, te. 95th. 
Lucy Vaughanfr. Bridg'r., w. Eben'r,o. Pratt, d. Ja. 1, 1822, 

£6.74'? 

Mary Bourne, (563) o. Torry, d. Ma. 9, 1837, te. 88th. 

Caleb Thompson Jr., fa. 268, (570); He and w. dis. 1810 

to Windsor, Vt., d. Fe. 9, 1821, te. 68. 
Mary Thompson, (569), o. Perkins, dau. of Eben'r., sis. 
711, d. De. 9, 1816, x. 60. 
Priscilla Weston, (762) m. 1776, o. Sturtevant dau. Dr. 
Josiah of Hal'x., chi. 777, d. Mh. 16, 1834, te. 83d. 
James Shaw fr. Duxbury, (573), br. 557 ; He and w. dis. 

1791 to Bakertown, Pa. 
Lois Shaw fr. Duxb'y, (572) m. 1749, o. Thomas. 

Thankful Morse, b. 1745, mo. 284; Re., m. Gannet? 

Abigail Bourne fr. Pembroke, wid. Eben'r. o. Newcomb, d. 
De. 10, 1821, te. 98th. 

Tilson Ripley, " on a bed of sickness," w. Rebecca, 9 chi. b. 
fr. 1749, to '67, d. Ju. 16, 1785, aj. 67th. 

Lucy Tinkham, fa. 428, gr. mo. 72, gr. gr. fa. 11, m. Issachar 
Fuller 1785. Her memory of early families and facts 
was remarkable. D. Ap. 30, 1847, x.. 95. 

Ruth Tinkham, fa. 428, sis. 577, unm., d. Oc. 9, 1805, se. 51. 



99 



579 


1785. 

Oc. IG. 


580 


« 30. 


581 
582 


1786. 

Ja. 22. 
" 22. 


583 


Ma. 14. 


584 
585 


" 14. 
Jy. 2. 


586 


" 9. 


587 


1787. 

Ap. 8. 


588 
589 
590 
591 
592 


" 8. 
Au. 12. 

Se. 2. 
« 2. 
« 23. 


593 


No. 4. 




1788. 


594 
595 


Jy. 20. 

No. 6. 



596 



De. 7. 



597 
598 
599 
600 
601 

602 

603 



1789. 

Ja. 25 
Mh. 15 
Ap. 5 



Eunice Barker fr. Longmeadow, (545) m. 1785, o. Stebbins, 
dau. Wm. and Eunice, d. Oc. 6, 1809, x. 49th, (p. 41.) 

Hannah Bryant, w. Nehemiah, m. 1757, o. Totman, d. Fe. 
16, 1814, x. 83d. 

Wm. Thompson, fo. 268, (582) m. '70, d. Mh.14,181 6,93.69. 
Deborah Thompson, (581) o. Sturtevant, dau. Lemuel of 

Hal'x., sis. 584, d.De. 25, 1842, te. 96th. 
Isaac Thompson, fa. 376, sis. 744, (584) m. 1775, d. De. 

21, 1819, fe. 74th. 
Lucy Thompson, (583) o. Sturtevant, d. No. 6, '34, se. 81st. 
Freelove Thompson, w. Jacob m. 1761, o. Finney, dau. of 

Pelatiah, d. No. 7, 1826, £e. 87th. 
Sarah Phinney, wid. John, 2d. m. 1799 to Ezra Holmes, o. 

Thompson b. 1762, dau Nathan, dis. 1808 to Norton. 

( Newcomb Bourne fr. Hal'x., mo. 575, i ^^^ 1802 to 

) br. 563, (588.) (q- fl l/l -Vf 

( Abigail Bourne, (587) o. Cushman. ) ^Pi'i'igtieicl, vt. 
Mary Lyon, (329) m. 1743, o. Cushman,d.Ju.8,1796,8e.73d. 

( Samuel Torry sr., b. 1753, s. of Wm. (591); 8 chi.bef.1793. 

■[Mary Torry, (590), o, Finney, b. 1757, fa. 354, Re. West. 
Jeremiah Tinkham, mo. 72, gr. fa. 11, m. Naomi Warren 
1740, d. Ju. 7, 1790, £E. 76. 

William Cornish sr., sis. 677, m. Mercy Swift bef. 1786, 2d. 
w. Mehitable Bates, d. Te. 24, 1836, is. 79th. 

Abigail Haskell, (598) o. Tabor, d. Jy. 26, 1811, jb. 54. 
Hannah Tinkham, wid. John sr., m. 1716, o. Howland, dau. 

of Isaac, and gr. gr. dau. of John of the M. F., sis. 64'? d. 

Mh. 25, 1792, je. 97. 

Mercy Bump, w. Joseph m. 1775, o. Barden, sis. 666, d. Ju. 

5, 1811, X, 57th. 



Luther Redding, b. 1748, mo. 478, m.; Re. to Taunton & d. 
Zebulon Haskell, (594) m. bef. 1785, d. Oc. 27, 1820. 
( Elijah Lucas, (600), Re. to Freetown, d. Ju. 8, 1806. 
5. I Sarah Lucas, (599) m. abt. 1780, o. Shaw, fa. 529, br. 651. 
Jy. 19. Mary Tinkham, w. Peter Jr., [fa. 336,] m. 1764, o. Thomp- 
son, fa. 268, br. 581, d. Ma. 30, 1815, is. 70th. 
Au. 2. Abigail Thomas, w. Israel, o. Finney, fa. 354, sis. 609, d. 
Fe.e. 1829, se77th. 
23. Lucy Leonard, w. Henry, 1st. m. 1762 to Samuel Turner, 
3d. m. to Mr. Doty, o. Pratt, mo. 191, d. May— 1835, 
SB 93 d. 



604 

605 
606 



Sarah Pratt, (440) o. Fuller, mo. 146, d. No. 1794, je 64? 



1790. 

Oc. 3 
1791. 

Ju, 26- Jacob Tisdell, (694), dis. 1795 to N. P., d.in N. Y. City. 
Au. 14-|Mercy Valler fr. Carv., w. Silas, Re. to Freetown. 

L.oFC. 



100 



607 

608 
609 



610 
611 
612 



613 

614 

615 
616 
617 

618 

619 
620 

621 

622 

623 

624 
625 

626 
627 

628 

629 



630 
631 



632 



1791. 

Oc. 9. 

1792. 

Ap. 1. 

Se. 30. 

1793. 

Ma. 26. 
Oc. 6 



1794. 

Ja. 19. 

Fe. 2. 

2. 

9. 

Mh. 2. 
2. 

2. 
2. 

9. 

Au. 24. 
No. 2. 

« 2. 

« 23. 

1795. 

Ap. 29. 
Au. 23. 

No. 15. 

« 15. 

1796. 

Ju. 5. 
Au. 14. 

1797. 

Mh.26. 



Lydia Bourne, w. Eben'r. m. 1788, o. Leach, b. 1766, dau. 
of Abiel Jr., gr. fa. 316. Ke. to Milton. 

Nathan Thomas sr., b. 1707, s. of Edward sr., br. 258, (271) 
2d. m. 1751 to Abigail Sturtevant, d. in old age. 

Martha Finney, fa. 354, sis. 602, unm. d. Mh. 11. 1833, 
se. 69. 

Margaret Pratt, br. 772, unm. d. Se. 8, 1800, ss 42d. 

f Josiah Carver fr. War'm., (612), d. Ap. 5, 1799, ss. 74. 
J Jerusha Carverfr. War'm., (611), 1st m. 1744 to Edw'd 

I Sparrow, O.Bradford, dau. Wm. & Elizabeth of Plym., d. Apr. 23. 

I 1820, ae. 97. 

Isaiah Weston, b. 1770, s. Zach'h, dis. 1794 to N. Bedford, 

m. Sarah Dean of Kaynham, (p. 54.) d. 
Elizabeth Tinkham, w. Cyrus, m. 1788, o. Turner, b. 1764, 

mo. 603, sis. 716, d. at Colraine, abt. 1843. 
Isaac Doty, m. — Nimlet '89, dis. '03 to Brookfield Vt. 
Priscilla Turner, w. David, m. '86, o. Pratt ; Re. to Me. 

(Elijah Alden, fa. 427, (618) m. 1779, d. Ju. 26, '26, a;. 72. 

J Mary Alden, (617) o. Alden, fa. 401? d. Se. 22, 1839, 

( se. 84th. 

Elihu Alden, b. 1775, fa. 427, dis. 1808 to Dixmont, Me. 
Mercy Porter, w. Jonathan, m. 1761, o. Redding, fa. 439, 

sis. 513, 494, d. Jy. 22, 1833 aj. 93. 

Benaiah Pratt, s. of Paul, gr. mo. 407, m. Louisa Warren 

1792, Re. to Me., a 2nd. & 3d. m., (p. 55.) 
Mary Norcutt, w. Eph'm. m. 1782, o. Kitts, mo. 321, d. Fe. 

3, 1842, 93. 83 d. 

Lucia Ellis, wid. of Matthias, m. 1743, o. Bennet, mo. 273, 

d. Oc. 3, 1804, oe. 79. 
Lucy Pratt, dau. Eben'r., br. 772, unm. d. Au. 19, 1844, a; 80 
Thankful Holmes, w. Ezra, o. Clark, d. Apr. 2, '99, se. 50th. 

Desire Morse, fa. 549, dis. 1819 to Hal'x., (re-ad. 1833.) 
Sarah Sturtevant, w. Dr. Thomas m. 1777, o. Soule, dau. 
Zach'h & Sarah, d. Mh. 11, 1839, se. 83. 

f Ebenezer Cobb, mo. 525, br. 644, (629), d. Au. 22, 1811, 

I se. 80. 

] Lydia Cobb, (628), m. '54, o. Churchill, d. Ja. 10, 1822, 

l_ X. 80. 

Anna Wright, (Afr.), (534), 2d. m. to Swansey Hart, d. 
Sarah Tinkham, wid. of Amos, [mo. 595], m. 1752, o. Tink- 
ham, dau. Peter, gr. mo. 24, d. Fe. 13, 1820, se. 85th. 

Betsey Harlow fr. Plym., w. Jonathan sr., o. Blackmar, dau. 
of John & Mercy, d. Se. 9, 1833, se. 87th. 



101 



633 

634 

635 
636 
637 

638 

639 
640 

641 

642 
643 

644 
645 

646 
647 



648 
649 

650 



651 
652 

653 



654 



655 



1797. 

Ap. 9, 

" 9. 

Ma. 21. 

« 21. 

« 21. 
1798. 

All. 5. 

1799 

Ap. 7. 

Ma. 12. 



De. 29. 
1800. 

Ma. 18. 
Ju. 29. 

Au. 24. 
" 24. 
1801. 

Ju. 20. 

Au. 16. 

1802^. 

Ju. 13. 
" 13. 

" 13. 

1803. 

Ap. 24. 
Ma. 22. 
1804. 

Ap. 8. 

1805. 

Ma. 19. 

1806. 

Ju. 8. 



656 Au. 10, 



657 
658 



Se 



[Joshua Eddy, fa. 341, br. 665, sis. 673, 856, (634) Dea. 

J 1806, d. Ma. 1, 183.3, SB. 85. 

1 Lydia Eddy, (633), o. Paddock, dau. Zachariah, gr. fa. 

[ 210, d. Fe. 13, 1838, a;. 82. 

Samuel Tucker, fa. 164, (757), d. Oc. 29, 1820, gs. 75ta. 

(Jesse Bryant, mo. 366, (637), d. Oc. 26, 1828, ie. 82. 
I Mercy Bryant, (636), o. Shaw, d. Ja. — 1819, x. 73. 

Zilpah Thomas, w. Jeremiah Jr. m. 1786, o. Wood, dau. of 
Amos, sis. 794, d. Mh. 15, 1825, se. 61. 

Ebenezer Wilder fr. Chelsea, s. of Nathan'l, sis. 727, (726) 

m. 1800, d. Se.2l, 1848, se. 76ih. 
Otis Thompson, fa. 706, sis 684 ; Pastor in Rehoboth, 1st. 

\v. Eachael Chandler [d. 1827, x. 48th.l ; a 2nd. m.; Ke. 

in Abington. (p. 54.) 
John McDowall fr. Scotland Eu. ; s. bap. ; Re. to St. of Me? 

Experience Peirce, dau. Wm., unm. d. Jy. 14, 1845 £e. 70 ? 

Rhoda Sparrow fr. War'm ; w. of Edward, [his mo. 612] 
m. 1765, o. Bump, daa. Phillip, d. Ja. 10, 1816, se. 68th. 
f Binney Cobb, mo. 525, br. 628, (645) > Re. to 
( Azubah Cobb,(644)m.l762,o.Shaw,sis.556, j Woods'k Vt. 

Benjamin Pratt, s. Noah of Plymt., sis. 713, m. Jemima 

Bryant 1785, d. Oc. 18, 1838, x. 75th. 
Betty Fuller, w. John, o. Smith, dau. of John, gr. fa. 63, 

164, chi. 685, 799, 1050, d. Se. 23, 1832, se. 75th. 

Isaac Shaw, (566), chi. 1079, d. Fe. 2, 1824, a;. 75th. 

{Perez Thomas, fa. 425, (650), Dea. 1803, d. Ju. 21, 1828, 
J ffi. 77. 

1 Sarah Thomas, (649) m. 1774, o. Wood, fa. 378, d. Apr. 

[ 3, 1829, se. 76th. 

Samuel Shaw, fa. 529, m. Lydia Cobb 1791, [fa. 628.] 
r Calvin Tilson, s. of Isaiah, gr. mo. 480, (653, 882), 2d. 
! m. 1824, Dea. 1819. d. Jy. 3, 1852, «;. 83d. 

1 Joanna Tilson, (652), o. Cobb, dau. Wm., d. Oc. 16, 
[ 1822, se. 56. 

Mark Shaw, fa. 483, m. Elizabeth Sampson 1785, [gr. fa. 
193, br.732, 2nd. h. (664)], d. Se. 5, 1806, se. 47. 

Weltha Thompson, w. Thomas, o. Whitmore, sis. of Rev. 

Benj'n., d. Apr. 16, 1 848, se. 76. 
Lydia Thompson, w. Solomon, m. '86, o. Murdock, dau. Jn. 
Margaret Finney, w. Lewis, o. Barden, d. Se. 11, '29, je. 55. 
Jane Ling, w. Sylvanus, m. 1796, o. Cushman, b. 1776, mo. 

701, dis. 1839 to Lisbon Me. & Re. there. 



102 





1806. 


659 


Se. 


9. 




1807. 


660 


Ju. 


28. 


661 


(( 


28. 


662 


11 


28. 


,^63 


Jy. 


12. 


664 


(( 


12. 


665 


ti 


12. 


666 


i( 


12. 


667 


u 


12. 


668 


u 


12. 


669 


li 


12. 


670 


ii 


12. 


671 


a 


12. 


672 


a 


12. 


673 


ii 


12. 


674 


a 


12. 


675 


a 


12. 


676 


u 


12. 


677 


a 


12. 


678 


(I 


12. 


679 


(( 


26. 


680 


Au 


23. 


681 


(I 


23. 


682 


(I 


23. 


683 


li 


23 


684 


(( 


23 


685 


i( 


23. 


686 


(1 


23. 


687 


ii 


23. 



Keziah Warren, w. Nathan m. 1786, o. Weston, 2d. m. to 
Wm. White, d. Au. 17, 1830, oe. 66th. 

( Squire Tinkham, mo. 631, sis. 672, (661), ra. 1797, Both 
J dis. 1823 to Hartland Vt. d. Oc. 17, 1851, se. 79. 

I Anna Tinkham, (000) o. Wood, fa. 747, d. Se. 1849, fe. 76th. 

Daniel Oliver Morton, fa. ad. 10, br. 862, sis. 910, d. 

Mh. 25, 1852, re. 62. (p. 55.) 
Silas Tinkham, s. Samuel, br. 526, gr. fa. 46? m. Lydia Smith 

[wid. of Jabez, o. Savery, br. 667], d. Ja. 22, 1816, x. 77th. 
James Soule 2d., mo. 554, m. Eunice Thompson, dau. of 

Eben'r: 2d. m. 1813, (654), d. Fe. 2, 1845, x. 83. 

' Seth Eddy, fa. 341, br. 633, (666), d. Au. 17, 1837, se 83, 
Jerusha Eddy, (665), o. Barden, sis. 596, d. Oc. 29, '35, 

sd. 76. 
Daniel Savery, mo. ad. 62, sis. 663, gr. gr. mo. 43, (668) m. 
1794, d. Se. 21, 1836, aj. 72. 
i Huldah Savery, (067) o. Soule, mo. 554, br. 664, d. Oc. 

17, 1853, 33. 78. 

Zenas Thomas, fa. 425, br. 649, (670), d. Ma. 12,1821, 

te. 59. 
Mary Thomas, (669) m. 1783, o. Vaughan, dau. of Jesse, 
gr. fa. 319, d. Fe. 24, 1828, fe. 64. 
Experience Bent, s. John, m. Salome Cusliing of Hal'x, d. 

Jy. 13, 1849, aj. 85th. (ex. 1826) 
Sarah Wood,(748) o.Tinkliam, mo. 631, d. Se. 20, 1846, « 89. 
Lucy Fuller, wid. of Di\ Jonathan, m. 1775, o. Eddy, fa. 
341, dis. 1834, toFairhaven. (Re-ad 1839.) 

Sally Fuller, mo. 673, m. Jenny, dis. 1829 to Fairhaven 

and Re. tliere. 

Deborah Ellis, (680) m. 1792, o. Hall, dau. Jabez and Deb- 
orah, d. Se. 6, 1826, x. 59th. 
John Freeman, s. of Elisha, (893), Dea. 1833, dis. 1846 to 

Carver, d. Fe. 10, 1847, x. 60th. 
Susanna Bates, w. Thomas, [fa. 86], o. Cornish, br. 593, d. 

Ju. 13, 1823, ffi. 69. 
Joseph Bates, mo. 677, unm. d. Ju. 19, 1846, 9B. 62d. 
Levi Smith, s. Israel, gr. mo. 313, m. Charity Bryant. 
Southworth Ellis sr., s. of Thomas & Ruth, gr. mo. 190, 

(675, 971,), d. Dec. 15, 1840, x. 72d. 
Sylvanus Eddy, s. of Sam'l. gr. fa. 341, m. — Fuller, dau. 

Sam'l of Hal'x., d. 1852 in Vt. 

Nathaniel Eddy, i'n. 633, br. 718, 944, sis. 683, (761, 797, 

10.59), Z)ea. 18.52. 

Lydia Eddy Jr., fa. 633, br. 718, 944, m. Barzillai Crane 
1810, dis. 1811 to Berkley, d. Fe. 10, 1842, re. 55th. 

Mary Cobb, w. Crocker, o. Thompson, fa. 706, br. 640. 

Sophia Fuller, mo. 647, sis. 799, br. 1050, (696) m. 1813. 

Betsey Leonard, w. Nathan'l. m. 1788, o. Bryant, fa. 636, d. 

Sally Kidder, w. Nathan, o. Chaddickof Sandw.,Re. to Fox- 
boro', d. Fe. 28, 1840, £e. 61. 



103 



688 
689 

6yo 

691 

692 
693 
694 

695 

696 
697 

698 

699 

700 
701 

702 
703 

704 

705 

706 
707 

708 

709 

710 
711 

712 
713 



714 
715 

71G 
717 



1807. 

Au. 23, 

" 23, 
« 23. 

" 23. 

" 23. 
« 23. 
« 23. 



" 23. 
« 23. 

Se. 13. 

" 27. 

Oc. 11. 

" 11. 

" 11. 

" 11. 

" 11. 
" 11. 

No. 29. 

" 29. 

" 29. 

" 29. 
" 29. 
" 29. 

" 29. 
" 29. 

1808. 

Fe. 21 
Mb. 13. 

" 13 
" 13, 



f Hezekiah Ripley, (689), Both dis. '09 to Middlebiiiy Vt. 

( Priscilla Ripley, (G88) in. '92, o. Wood, b. '76, dau. Eph'm, 
I f James Smith, mo. 313, (691), m. 1760, d. Se. 29, 1815. 
I ;' X. 78th. 

; "^ Patience Smith, (690), o. Wood, fa. 356. d. Ma. 12, 1822, 

[ ffi. 76. 

William Thomas, fa. 649; Re. to St. of Me. m. d. 1821, aj. 34. 
Calvin Tilson Jr., fa. 652, unm. d. Ju. 19, 1817, £b. 24th. 
Hannah Tisdale, (605) o. Shaw, dau. Elijah sr., sis. 740, dis. 

1826 toN. Y. City. 
Bathsheba Tribou, w. JMelzar, m. 1789, o. Thomas, dau. 

David and Rebecca, d. Fe. 1.3, 1837, re. 71sl. 
John Warren, mo. 659, br. 832, (685) m. 1813, chi. 1019. 
Lydia Wood, w. Jacob, m. 1784, o. Miller, dau. John & 

Zilpha, sis. 735, d.Fe. 13, 1849, a;. 83d, 
Lucy Wood, w. Abner Jr. m. 1797, o. Thompson, fa. 581, 

br. 770 sis. 725, dis. 1831 lo No. Rochester. 
Lydia Paddock, w. John, [gr. fa. 210], o. Gushing, dau. Col. 

Cashing, d. Ma. 30, 1826, se. 60. 
C Edward Thomas, mo. 509, (701), d. Ja. 16, 1844, te. 85th. 
-| Lydia Thomas, (700), 1st. m. 1774? to Sam'l Cushman, 
(^ dau. 658, o. Gano, dau. Jas? d. Ju. 8, 1839, ss. 87th. 

Betsey Thomas, w. Daniel m. 1793, o. Alden, fa. 427, dis. 

1847 to C. C. C, d. Au. 26, 1849, a>. 76*.' 
Abiah Sears, w. of Leonard, Isth. Sebra Simmons, o. Leon- 
ard, dau. Joseph, d. 1828, as. ab't 55. 
Susanna Leach, w. Joseph, o. Sturtevant of Hal'x. 
Reuel Thompson, s. Fi-ancis, m. Thankful Wood 1802, [d. 

1843, re. 66th, fa. 747j, d. Oc.3, 1851, ce. 75th. 
Nathaniel Thompson, fa. 268, 569, m. Hannah Thomas 

1775, dis. 1819 to Rehoboth, d. Ja. 31, 1833, se. 82i. 
Jacob Cobb, b. 1782, s. of James, gr. fa. 628, m. Patience 

Barrows 1804. Re. in Hartford Me. 
( George Briggs, s. of Eben'r, gr.fa. 522, (709), He. & W. 
) dis. 1818 to Hartford & Sumner Me. 

) Patience Brigggs, (708), 1st. h. — Holmes, o. Clarke. 

r John Soule, s. of James, (711), d. Ja. 29, 1815, ». 66. 
-| Joanna Soule, (710), o. Perkins, dau. of Eben'r, sis. 570, 
i 2d. m. Nathan Alden of Bridg'r, 1818. 

Sage Morse, w. Wm., o. Staples, d. May 21, 1834, se. 89, 
Maria Wood, w. Joshua, 1st. h. Hacket, o. Pratt, br. 646. 



William Barker, fa. 545, unm. d. No. 9, 1809, a;. 22. (p. 43.) 
f Daniel Darling, s. of Benj., gr. fa. 149, (716), d. No. 14, 

; '14, X. 42. 

1 Polly Darling, (715) m. 1795, o. Turner, mo. 603, sis. 
[ 614, chi. 848, 849. 850, d. Ju. 17, 1843, x 69. 

Lydia Torry, w. Caleb, m. 1789, o. Darling, b. 1771, br. 
715, (ex. 1824.) d. Ja. 5, 1848, se. 77th. 



104 



718 
719 


1808. 

Mh. 13. 
" 13. 


720 
721 
722 
723 


(( 

Ap. 
<> 


20. 
20. 

3. 

3. 


724 
725 
726 


(I 


3. 
3. 
3. 


727 


(I 


3. 


728 


U 


3. 


729 


11 


3. 


730 


Ma 


15. 


731 
732 


Au. 


15. 
14. 


733 


u 


14. 


734 


Se. 


11. 


735 


a 


11. 


736 


a 


11. 


737 


u 


11. 


738 


u 


11. 


739 


(( 


11 


740 


Oc. 


16 


741 


11 


23 


742 


u 


23 


743 
744 


1809. 

Ap. 9 
" 9 


745 


Ju. 


4 


746 


Jy. 


23 



( Zechariah Eddy , fa. 633, br. 682, 944, sis. 683, (719.) 
] Sarah Eddj, (718), o. Edson, sis. 853, gr. gr. fa. 226, & 

( gr. gr. gr. fa. 32, d. Se. 7, 1850, se 69th. 

J John Atwood, (721), d. Ju. 17, 1839, fe. 63. 

( Rhoda Atwood, (720), o. Johnson, d. Oc. 11, 1814, ae. 39. 
Lydia Thompson, fa. 583, br. 730, (1060), dis. to Plymt. 
Lucy Thompson, fa. 583, (935), m. 1819, d. Oc. 13, 1852. 

se. 66. 
Mary Thompson, fa. 583, m. Dr. R. Capen, Re. in Boston. 
Irene Thompson, fa. 581, br. 870, 935, m. Daniel Warren. 
Mary Wilder, (639), o. Bump, mo. 596, d. Mh. 30, 1848, 

£6. 71. 

Mary Wilder, br. 639, m. Henry Holmes 1813, dis 1815 to 

Alfred Me. d. there No. 14. 1847, se. 63d. 
Serena Hubbard, w. Ahira, o. Tucker, mo. 746, dis. 

1810 to "Windsor, Vt. (Re-ad 1824.) 
Sybil Porter, dau. of Isaac of Hal'x, m. — Noyes, dis. 

1838 to Plainfield. 
Ezra Thompson, fa. 583, sis. 722, m. Cynthia Gifford, Re. 

ia New Bedford. 
Abigail Sturtevant, mo. 627, d. Dc. 30, 1834, aj. 51st. 
Samuel Sampson, s. John, gr, fa. 193, sis. 654, (733), Dea. 

1826, d.Jy. 30, 1850, se. 86. 
Lydia Sampson, (732), o. Holmes, d. Se. 13, 1828, se. 57tli. 

Josiab Sparrow, mo. 643, (735) m. 1800, dis. 1827 to 
Rochester, 2d. m. wid. Clarissa Hayward, 3d m. wid* 
Alice Gushing, d. Ja. 25, 1851, se 76. 
' Minerva Sparrow, (734) o. Miller, sis. 697, d. Au. 15, 

1839, se. 60. 

Jacob Thomas, s. of Jeremiah, br. 884, (737) m. 1799, 
2d. w. Cynthia Thomas, [fa. 743]. d. Mh. 22, 1851, se. 77. 
Lucy Thomas, (736) o. Thomas, mo. 550, d. Jy. 10, 1815, 
se. 40th. 
Hope Thomas, b. 1787, mo. 550, sis. 737, Re. to Hartford 

Me, m. Phillip Ellis, d. before 1840. 
Hannab Tilson, w. Sylvanus, o. Southworth, mo. 308, gr. fa. 

135, d. No. 30, 1821, a;. 66. 
Irene Standish, w. Jonathan, o. Shaw, sis. 694, br. Elijah 

sr., d. Fe. 28, 1822, a;. 44. 
Sylvia Cushman, w. Jacob, m. 1796, o. Thompson, fa, 569, 
sis. 742, dis. 1829 to Bristol R. L, d. Oc. 13, 1845, se. 67. 
Abigail Wood, w. Nelson, [br 782, gr. mo, 429,] o. Thompson, 
fa. 569, sis. 741, d. Mh. 31, 1843, a. 60. 

Sylvanus Thomas, fa. 424, (744), d. Au. 30, 1814,36.74. 
Susanna Thomas, (743) m. 1761, o. Thompson, br. 583, 
d. Se. 4, 1822, a;. 79. 

Priscilla Weston Jr., fa. 762, sis. 777, 778, m. Joseph Tink- 

ham, dis. 1850 to Hali'x. 
Jedidah Tucker, wid. of Nathaniel, [fa. 164] m. 1767, o. 

Warren, fa. 343, chi. 728, d. Mh. 25, 1819, se. 71. 



105 



74^ 

748 
749 

750 

751 

752 
753 

754 

755 

756 

757 
758 

759 
760 



761 



762 



7G3 

764 
765 

766 

767 
768 

769 
770 
771 

772 



1809. 

Oc. 22, 

22. 
22. 

22. 

22. 

22. 

22. 



" 22. 
18l6i 

Fe. 25. 

Ap. S 

Jy. 8. 
" 8- 

" 15. 
Oc. 14. 

1811. 

De. 22 

1812, 

Se. 6, 

1813. 

Jy. 4. 

4. 
Au. 15. 

" 15. 

Se. 26. 
" 26. 

" 26. 

« 26, 

No. 14. 

14. 



Israel Wood, fa. 379, m. Priscilla Vauglian, 1772, [d. 1808, 
SK. 59tli. fa. .351], 2(1. m. 1810 (504), d. Ma. 12ili, 1829, 
K. 85th. 

Ichabod Wood,fa. 379, (672) m. '75, d. Dc. 30, 1825, re. 741. 

f Lothrop Perkins, fa. ad. 5, br. 790, (750), dis. 1831 to N. 

' Rochester ; a 2tl. m. 

] Mercy Perkins, (749), o. Cusliman, mo. 565, d. Ap. 30, 

[ 1815 X 34. 

Elizabeth Wood, w. Gorham, m. 1799, o. Sparrow, mo. 643, 

sis. 8S2, 758, br. 7.34, dis 1847, to C C. C. 
Theodate Wood, br. 947,. (792), d. Jy. 31, 1828, re. 49. 
Susanna Wilder, w. Benaiah, [be d. Ma. 15, 1818, re. 43, 

hr. G.'39], o Bryant, ia. 636, d. Ja. 1, 1818. x. 39 ? 
Priscilla Cobb, b. 1770,' mo. 338, unm., d. in Vt. 1851. 

Abigail Bourne, w. Abner, o. Williams of Taunton ?, d. 

Ju. 15, 1845, aj. G4. 
Jael Rider, w. Jesse m. 1804, o. Elmes, b. 1772, dau. John, 

gr. mo. 172, dis. 1825 to Plym., d. 
Hannah Tucker, (635), o. Dunbar, d. No. 1, 1838, re. 83. 

Jerusha Lovell, w. Joseph m. 1783, o. Sparrow, mo. 643, 
sis. 751, 882, br. 7.34, 2d. m. (771), d. Au. 6, 1843, a. 77. 
Sally Curtis fi'. Plym., w. David, o. Clarke. 

Anna Barker fr. Branford Ct., (545), 1st. h. Rev. Jason 
Atwater, 2d. h. Kev. Lynde Huntington, o. Williams, 
dau- of Eev. Warham, dis. 1816 to Branford. 

Anna Eddy fr. Plainfield Ct., (682), o. Andros, dau. of Dea. 
Abel of P., sis. 797, d. Jy. 13. 1812, x. 28. 

John AVeston, s. John & Content, mo. ad. 63, m. Elizabeth 
Leonard 1757, 2d. m. 1776 (571), d. No. 15, 1815, se. 
82. (p. 62.) 

Mercy Bennet, wid. John, ra. 1791, o. Morton, dau. Seth, 

gr. mo. 127, d. Mh. 2, 1826, x. 57. 
Priscilla Sturtevant, mo. 627, m. Robert Blair '13. [d.] 

f Joseph Bourne, fa. 563, (766), He & w. dis. 1816 to N. 

j Bedford, d. there Ju. 17, 1829, x. 41st. 

] Sophia Bourne fr. Fairhaven, (765), o. Bates, dau. Dea. 

[ Joseph of F., Re. in Newton Ms. 

Mercy Harlow, mo. 632, sis. 768, d. Mh. 30, '54, re. 84th. 
Betsey Wood, w. Eliab m. 1808, [he d. Oc. 12, 1852, re. 
71st., fa. 747], o. Harlow, mo. 632, sis. 737. 

Hepzibah Harlow fr. Sandw., w. Samuel, o. Burgess ; Re. 

Jabez Williams, (785) m. 1815, (ex. 1827)., Re. to Penn. 

John Tinkham, fa. 346, m. Mary Wood 1778, 2d m. Lydia 
Wood, wid. of Thomas 1810, 3d. m. (758), d. Ap 5, 
1829,33. 75. 

Thomas Pratt, b. 1775, s. of Eben'r. sis. 610, 621, (823). 
14 



100 



773 

774 

775 

776 

777 
778 
779 

780 

781 
782 

783 

784 

785 

786 
787 

788 

789 
790 

791 

792 
793 

794 

795 
796 
797 

798 
799 



1813. 

No. 14, 

" 14 

De. 19, 

" 19. 

" 19. 
' 19. 
" 19. 

1814. 

Ja. 2 

« 23. 
" 23 

" 23 

Ap. 10. 

" 10. 

« 10. 

No. 20. 

« 27. 

1815. 

Ma. 21. 

Se. 17. 

1816. 

Fe. 14. 

Oc. 6. 
No. 17. 

1819. 

Ap. 4. 

Ma. 16. 
16. 

Ju. 27. 

" 27. 

" 27. 



William Gisby, s. of EdwYl. br. 928, gr.gr. mo. 172, m. Euth 
T. Bennett [dau. of Thomas & Euth, gr. fa. ad. 4 & 6]. 

Hannah Coade, dau. of Joseph & Sarah of Plymouth, dis. 
1837 to Dunkirk N. Y. (Ec-ad. 1840). 

Mercy Bennet, av. .Jacob, [fa.ad.G.], m. 1780, o. Porter, mo. 

620, sis. 825, d Jy. 6, 1847, sd. 85. 
Sarah Porter, dau. Zacha'h., gr. mo. 620, Re., m. Di*. — ■ 

Brown of Pa.; now a wid. 
Hannah Weston, fa. 762, sis. 745, unm., d. Ja. 6. 1840, se. 49. 
Salome Weston, fa. 762, mo. 571, sis, 745, 777, (802). 
Eunice Sturtevant, mo. 627, unm.,d. Ma. 14, 1815, aj. 22. 

Jacob Bennet 2d., s. Eben'r. Livy, (794), d. Au. 20, '50, 

se. 76. 

Orin Tipkham, fa. 771, m. Achsa Townsend, Ee. in Me. 
Temperance Burgess, m. Levi Wood 1814, [s. of Levi, gr. 

mo. 429], dis. 1837 to Fall River. 
Ichabod Wood 2d., fa. 747, sis. 661; Re. to Ind. ra. bef. 

1823, Left 4 chi.; d. Oc. 31, 1830, se. 42. 

Mary Wood, (SOI), o. W^eston, dau. Abner and Huldah, 

gr. mo. 539, gr. gr. fa. 231, d. Se. 30, 1827, le. 40. 
Serena Thomas, dau. Seth, sis. 738, gr. mo. ad. 85, (770), 

m. 1815, dis. 1833 to Pittsburg Pa. 
Lucy Swift, w. Joseph sr., o. Cornish, fa. 593, sis. 985. 
Mercy King, dau. John & Elizabeth, gr. mo. 384, m. Jo- 

sephus Bump 1814, d. Se. 19, 1818, jc. 29? 
Elizabeth Barker, fa. 545, mo. 579, br. 714, dis. 1827 to 

Freetown ; d. in Chicago, 111. Ap. 5, 1854, ic. 63d. 

Hepzibah Morton fr. Salsbury Vt., dau. Seth jr., gr. gr. mo. 

127, sis. 1061, dis. 1840 to N. Bedford, d. Ma. 16, 1848? 

se. 50? 
John Perkins, fa. ad. 5, br. 749, m. Sarah Snow, 2 m. 

(1043), dis. 1825 to N. Rochester. (Ke-ad. 1845). 

REV. EMERSON PAINE, 6th Pastor, m. Lydia Pendle- 
ton, Re. 1822, d. Ap. 26, 1851, re. 65, (p. 43.) 

Leonard Elmes fr. Abbeville S. C, fa. 817, (752), (ex. 1827), 
Re. in Dighton, 2d. m. Stephens. 

James Sprout, s. Robert jr., gr. gr. fa. 135, (827) m. 1800, 
Dea. 1833, d. Ap. 15, 1837. a;. 63d. (p. 72). 

Rebecca Bennet, (780) m. 1802, o. Wood dau. Amos, sis. 

638, dis. 1828 to No. Rochester, d. Ma. 24, 1846, te. 67th, 
Fanny D. Sturtevant, mo. 627, unm., d. De. 22, 1845, «. 48. 
Joanna Tilson, fa. 652, mo. 653, br. 693, sis. 873. 
Abby Eddy, (682), o. Andros, sis. 761, d. Oc. 28, 1848, 

£e. 55th. 

Julia Paddock, mo. 699, unm., d. Ju. 6, 1849, se. 50lh. 
Sylvea Fuller, mo. 647, sis. 68-5, br. 1050. 



107 



800 
801 

802 
803 

804 
805 

806 

807 
808 

809 

810 
811 

812 
813 

814 

815 

81C 

817 
818 
819 
820 
821 
822 
823 
824 
825 

826 

827 

828 
829 
830 
831 
832 
833 



1819. 

Ju. 27 
Au. 15. 



15. 
15. 

Oc. — . 
1820. 

Ja. 11. 

1823. 

Se. — . 



Elizabeth Wood, mo. 751, m. Collester Wood [d. 1850]. 
Horatio G. Wood, s. of Eben'r., br. 947, sis. 752, gr. mo. 

4:>9, (784, 83G), Dea. 1842, dis. 1847 to C. C. C. with 32 

others. 
Ebenezer Willis, sis. 87G, (778), d. Ja. 20, 1840, jb. 49. 
Eliphalet Doggett, s. of Mark, m. Sybil Peabody, dis. 1828 

to E. Brid'r., 2d. m. — Keith, Re. in N. Bedford. 
Eliphalet Elmes Jr., fa. 817, (854), Re. in Taunton. 

Deliverance Littlejuhn, w. AVm. m. '94, o. Muxham, dau. 
Jn., Admitted at her house, d. Ja. 11, 1820, ae. 51st. 



Susanna Tinkham, fa. 663, Admitted at her house, unm. 
d. Dc.30, 1823, ffi. 
Oc. lO.eJosiah Clarke, m. Hannah Harlow, d. Ma. 3, 1839, se. 95 
19. Mary Clarke, mo, 845, sis 809, ra. Edward Stetson 1827 

dis. 1828 to N. Bedford, d. Oc. 13, 1836, ae. 37th. 
19. Deborah P. Clarke, mo. 845, sis. 808, gr. fa. 807, ra. Geo 

Thompson 1826, [his fa, 583], d. Mh. 23. 1853, a;. 55. 
19. ( Abiel Washburn, s. Edward, (811), d. Ju. 17, 1843, a3. 80^ 
19. - Elizabeth Washburn, (810) m. 1788, o. Pierce, dau. Job 

i sis. 895, d. Mh. 23, 1850, £6. 84. 

19. Abigail Washburn, f\i. 810, dis. 1851 to C. C. C. 
19. Caroline Washburn, fa. 810, m. Rev. Francis Horton, dis. 
1833 to Brookfield Ms., d. at W.Cambr'ge Se.20,1849,a3.42^. 
19. Louisa Jane Washburn, fa. 810, m. Rev. Elam Smalley, 

dis. 1832 to Franklin Ms., Re in Worcester, Ms. 
19. Louisa Bourne, mo. 895, sis. 870, m. Alexander Wood 1824, 

[fa. 748], Re. in Hanover, Ms. 
19. HiLLiARD Bryant, s. of Seth, gr. mo. 673, dis. 1827 to 

A m Vi p r s t T\T s (w S 5 ^ 

19. C Eliphalet Elmes sr.,'fa.'524, (818), d. Au. 4, '30, aj. 77th. 
1 9. I Chloe Elmes, (817) m. '77, o. Leonard, d. Jy. 5,'43,a;.86th. 
19. Jane Finney, mo. 657, m. Eber Beal, d. Jy. 7, 1825, a. 26th. 
19. Hannah Freeman, mo. 856, unm., d. Se. 22, 1842, «. 59. 
19. Miriam Littlejohn, mo. 805, sis. 861, gr. gr. mo. 163. 
19. Job Lucas, s. of Samuel, m. Mary Morse. 
19. Lydia Pratt, (772), o. Macomber, dau. Simeon, sis. 854. 
19. Phebe Pratt, w. Zerubbabel, o. Stone, d. Mh. 4, '45, se. 49. 
19. Bathsheba Sparrow, av. Edward, [d. No. 18, '53, «. 86th,] 
m. 1798, o. Porter, mo. 620, sis. 775, d. Mh 27, 1853, se. 80th. 
19. Josiah O. Standish, s. Joshua sr.. Re., m., Re. in Plymouth. 
19. Lucy Sproat, (793) o. Clarke, dau. Dr. Joseph & Rebecca, 

[sis. 544] gr. gr. mo. 127, d. De. 7, 1849, ». 69. 
19. Joseph Swift jr., mo. 786, unm., d. Oc. 9, 1829, ge. 20. 
19. Mercy Swift, mo. 786, m. Ich. Shurtliff, dis. '43 to Carv. 
19. Lucy Swift jr., mo. 786, m. W. Taylor of Pembroke, Re. 
19. Elizabeth Tinkham, fa. 663, unm., d. Mh. 28, 1846, a;. 74. 
19. ( James Warren, br. 696, (833), He & W. dis. '47 to C.C.C. 
19. I Margaret Warren, (832) o. Finney, mo. 657, sis. 819. 



108 



834 


1823 

Oc. 19 


835 


(( 


19 


836 


u 


19 


837 


li 


19 


838 


u 


19 


839 


C( 


10 


840 


No 


23 


841 
842 
843 
844 
845 


a 


23 
23 
23 
23 
23 



846 



847 



" 23, 
" 23, 



848 


11 


23. 


849 


u 


23 


850 


(( 


23 


851 


ii 


23 


852 


(( 


23 


853 


(( 


23 


854 


ii 


23 


855 


li 


23 


856 


u 


23 


857 


il 


23 


858 


ii 


23 


859 


(I 


23 


860 


(I 


23 


861 


a 


23 


862 


a 


23 


863 


ii 


23 


864 


li 


23 


865 


11 


23 


866 


u 


23 


867 


a 


23 


868 


H 


23. 



Thomas Weston pr., s. Edmund jr., gr. fa. 231, (835), d. 

Ja. 17, 1834, cc. 64. 
Abigail Weston, (834), o. Dag.^^ett, d. Au. 11, 1830, te. 55. 

Abigail Weston Jr., fn. 834, (801) m. 1830, dis. 1847 lo C 

C. C, d. Ja. 7, 1854,113. 53d. 
Bethania Weston, fa. 834, m. Earl Sproat, [fa. 868]. 
Lavinia Weston, fa. 834, m. Keland Tinkham [d.Ma. 2, '54, 
K .56.]; his and her gr. gr. mo. 595 ; d. Oc. 15, 1849, x. 41st. 
Thomas Weston Jr., fa. 834, gr. gr. fa. 231, (851). 
Francis At wood, s. Wm., m. Elizabeth Ward, dau. Benj'n., 

2d. m. Abigail Shurtliff, d. Ja 22, 1853, x. 79. 
Shadrach Atwcod, fa. 840, Re., m.. Re. in Franklin, Ms. 
( Martin Buss, (843), Re. 
( Eliza Buss, (842), Re. 
Joseph Chamberlain, d. in Plymt. Oc. 6, 1825. 
Elizabeth Clarke, w. Joseph, m. 1791, o. Morton, dau. of 

John, gr. mo. 127, d. Mh. 19, 1840, re. 70. 
Otis T. Cobb, mo. 684, dis. 1831 to Amherst, Ms., m. Maria 

Cady, dau. of Squire of Ct. Re. in Plainfield, Ct. 
Adaline Cobb, mo. 684, br. 846, m. Heman Cobb, dis. 1840 

to Plym. Ee. ad. 1853. 
Alanson Darling, fa. 715, sis. 849, 850, (857). 
Hannah H. Darling, fa. 715, m. — Spaulding, dis. 1837 to 

Lempster, N. H. 
Aurilla Darhng, fa. 715, m. Hiram Fletcher, dis. 1832 to 

Lempster, N. H. 
Thalia Eddy, fa. 944, br. 967, sis. 955, 968, 969, (839). 
Ann Juliett Eddy, fa. 718, sis, 988, m. Samuel Barrett, 

dis. 1833, to Cambridge, Re. in Newton, Ms. 
Charlotte Edson, sis. 719, Re. in Titicut. 
Lavinia Elmes, (804), o. Macomber, sis. 823, d. Oc. 29 ? 

1836, re. 29? 
Louisa Elmes, fa. 817, m. Samuel G. Drake of Boston. 
Mercy Freeman, w. Elisha, o. Eddy, fa. 341, d. Au. 19, 

1828, re 82. 
Lauretta Ann Fuller, gr. mo. 647, (848). 
Rufus Holmes, s. of Zaccheus, (861) dis. 1828 to War'm., d. 

Mh. 20, 1839, re. 35. 

George L. Holmes, mo. 800, Re., m., Re. in Tenn. 
Eunice Holmes, w. Peleg, o. Wood, dis. 1840 to N. Bridg'r. 
Hannah Littlejohn, mo. 805, (858), dis. 1828 to War'm. 
Lendall P. Morton, br. 662, (904), d. Ja. 11, 1843, 03. 46th. 
Nathan Perkins Jr., gr. gr. mo. 172, (1023) 2d. m. Mrs. 

Sias, o. Dean, dis. 1847 to C. C. C. 
Olive Pratt, fa. 772, br. 1032, m. Darius Wentworth, dis. 

1835 to Bridg'r. lie d., she Re. there. 
Lydia Smith, dau. Jabez, sis. 1051, gr. gr. fa. 161. 
James Soule 4th, aged 12 yrs., s. Wra., gr. fa. 664, (1052) 
Ruth Soule, w. Isaac o. Fuller, d. Se. 30, 1849, te. 69th. 
Thomas Sproat, fa. 323, (883) d. Fe. 3, 1833, vs. 75. 



109 



869 
870 


1823 

No. 23 
" 23 


871 
872 


" 23 
" 23 


873 
874 

875 


" 23. 
" 23. 
" 23. 


876 

877 


« 23. 
" 23. 


878 


1824. 

Ja. 7. 


879 


u 7 


880 


" 7. 


881 


Ap. 4. 


(V2S) 


" 4 


882 


" 4 


883 
884 


« 4. 
« 4. 


885 
886 


" 4. 
Mh.lO. 


887 


Jy. 4. 


888 


1825 

Se. 9. 



889 



890 

891 
892 



893 
894 



1826. 

Ja. 22, 

Jy. 2, 
Se. 21, 

1827. 

De. 2, 

1829. 

Jy. 5. 



Daniel Thomas, mo. 702, ra. Pliebe Thomas, '25, Ro. in Pa. 
Arad Thompson, fa. 581, br. 935, sis. 698, 725, m. Mercy 

liouruc, [her mo. 895, si-;. 815], d. Ap. 22, 184.3, te. 5G. 
Marietta T. Tliompson, fa. 935, br. 926, sis. 872, 927. 
Cordelia Thompson, fa. 935, sis. 871, m. Benj'n. Bryant, 

lie. in Philadelphia. 
Judith Tilson, fa. 652, br. 693, unm. d. Ja. 22, 1836, x. 30},. 
Betsey L. Wing, mo. 880, m. Ehj. Burgess, dis. '47 to C. C C. 
James D. Wilder, a3. 15th year, ia. 639, (1001), dis. 1847 

to C. C. C. : Dea. there, d. Fe. 7, 1854, x. 45th. 
Jane Wilhs, dau. Eben'r and Joanna of Bridgwater, br. 802. 
Lydia Wood, dau. Timothy, br. 1014, gr. gr. mo. 429, gr. 

gr. gr. fii. 135, m. Caleb Bassett, Ke. iu W. P. 

Jabez Fuller fr. Wrenthara, mo. 673, sis. 074, (879), 

he and W. dis. 1 82C to Berkley. They Ke. in Yer. 
Sally Fuller fr. Plymt., (878), o. Churchill. 

Lura Wing fr. Wai''m., Avid. of Ansel, o. Leonard, dau. of 
Archippus, gr. mo. 3.38, d De. 15, 1851, a?. 71. 

Susan B. Fuller fr. Plainfield Ct., w. Zachariah, [his mo. 
673, br. 878], o. Barstow, d. in Plainfield, Ct. 

Serena Hubbard fr. Windsor, Vt., o. Tucker, gr. fa. 164, 
dis. 1838 to Chicago, 111. and He. there ; wid.of Ahira. 

Susanna Miller, wid. John [d. Jy. 16, '18 se. 47th,] m. '92, 
(652), o. Sparrow b. 1772. mo. 643, br. 734, sis, 751. 

Mary Sproat, (868), o Briggs, d. Sep. 3, 1834, a*. 73. 

Silas Thomas, s. of Jer'h, gr. mo. 387, 484, br. 736, m. Mary 
Shurtliff, d. Au. 10. 1834, x. 69th. 

Eleazer Thomas, s. of Eleazer, gr. fa. 350, (920). 

REV. WILLIAM EATON fr. Fitchburg, 7th Pastor, 

(890), dis. 1834, d. April 15, 1840, a3 56 ; (p. 44.) 
Azel Thomas, mo. 892, sis, 894, gr. gr. fa. 428, 298, m. 
Harriet Thompson 1837, d. Mh. 31, 1844, x. 47th. 

Elizabeth Leonard fr. Plym., w. of Eph'm., 1st h. Geo. 
Churchill, o. Harlow, dau. of Seth and Sarah Wairen,*' 
J>ea. Natlil? Benfnj- Ilidiard of the M. F., d. De. 28 
1846, X. 78.' ' 

Lucy W. Morse fr. Nor. Bridg'r., dau. of Sam'l, br. 1016, 
1053, gr. fa. 549, m. Edw'd. Adams. 

Lydia Eaton fr. Fitchburg, (886), o. Sanford, dis. 1834, 
d. in Worcester Ms., Mh. 25, 1850, a\ 55. 

Ruth Morse, w. of Levi, o. Savery, dis. 1839 to Carv. 

Phebe Thomas, w. Azel, m. 1796, o. Ellis, dau. of Geo., gr. 
mo. 623, d. in the St. of Me. Feb. 3, 1851, x. 76. 

Mary Freeman, (676), o. Cole, dau. of Job, sis. 917, 1081 

dis. 1846, to Carv., d. Ju. 13. 1852, ai. 65th. 

Betsey Thomas, mo. 892, m. Sam'l Ellis, dis. 'oo to War'm. 



110 





1829. 


895 


Se. 


27. 


890 


u 


27. 


897 


u 


27 


898 


(I 


27. 


899 


(( 


27. 


900 


u 


27. 


901 


u 


27. 


902 


a 


27. 


903 


No. 


8. 


904 


a 


8. 


905 


ii 


8. 


906 


11 


8. 


907 


» 


8. 


90S 


11 


8. 




1830. 


909 


Ja. 


20. 


910 


Ap. 


2. 


911 


Au. 


1. 


912 


De. 


5. 


913 


(( 


5. 




1831. 


914 


Ju. 


5. 


915 


u 


5. 


91G 


a 


5. 


917 


(C 


5. 


918 


a 


5. 


919 


a 


5. 


920 


11 


5. 


921 


u 


5. 


922 


u 


5. 


923 


il 


5. 


924 


Ju. 


5. 


925 


a 


5. 


926 


i( 


5. 



Lucy Bourne, w. Wm., o. Pierce, dau. Job, dis. '48 to C C. C. 
f Ebenezer Pickens, son of Sam'l, (897), he and w. dis.'47 to 
) C. C. C. 

! Mary B. Pickens, (896,) o. Thompson, dau. Benj'n. sis. 
[ 931, 947, gr. fa. 563, gr. gr. ta. ad. 4. 

Lydia M. Eddy, (944), o. Morton, dau. Joshua, sis. 971. 
Polly W. Caswell, w. Eleazer, o. Cobb, dau. of Lemuel, gr. 

gr. fa , 3G3. 
Jane Standisli, w. John, o. Churchill dau. Elias ; Ee. 
Barbara Tinkham, dau. Eben'r. gr. fa. 592. 
Lauretta Wing, mo. 880, m. Wm. T. Estes, dis. 1843, to 

Taunton, d. in Sandwich, De. 24, 1852, Oi. 43. 
Olive T. Cobb, dau. Levi, gr. fa. 628, gr. mo. 550, m. 

Philander Hacket, d. Au. 12, 1850, a;. 40. 
Eliza S. Morton, (862), m. 1824, o. Hacket, dau. George, 

sis. 924, hr. 903, d. Ja. 12, 1843, as. 38. 
Mary Norcutt, mo. 622, m. Dan'l Dunham, dis. '47 to C.C.C. 
j Samuel Pool, (907) ; they Ee. in South Abington. 
I Lyd.a Pool, (906), o. Cox. 
Betsey Warren, w. Galen, [he d. Ju. 19, 1853, se. 55 ; br. 

G9G], o. Tribou, mo. 695, gr. gr. fa 298. 

Sarah Jackson fr. Windsor Vt., dau. of Joseph sr., gr. fa. 

335, dis. 1847 to C. C. C. 
Hannah D. Morton fr. Shoreham Vt., fa. ad. 10, br. 662, 

862, m. Horatio N. Wilbur, d. Jy. 26, 1846, sz. 37th. 
Lucy C. Wood fr. Scitu., (947,) m. '27 1st. m. — Gushing, 

o. Nichols, dis. 1847 to C. C. C, d. Se. 26, 1848, x. 61st. 
Susanna Tucker, w. Daniel [fa. 327], o. Thompson, dau. 

Nathan, gr. mo. ad. 64, 16 chi. fr. '83, d. Fe. 25, '50, a;.86th. 
Mandana Tucker, mo. 912, gr. gr. mo. ad, 64. 

Freeman Barrows, mo. 971, dis. 1832 to N. Bedford, Re. 

in Mo. ; m. 
Betsey Eddy, w. Eben'r, [fa. 633], o. Stetson, dau. Caleb, 
Betsey M. Eddy, mo. 915, gr. fa. 633, m. Amasa Thompson 

[gr. gr. gr. fa. 9], d. No. 17, 1851, x. 38. 
Hannah Thomas, wid. of Ezra, [gr. fa. 425], o. Cole, 

dau. of Job, sis. 893, d. Jy. 5 ? 1 853, x. 63. 

( Seneca Thomas,\\\. 649, br. 923, sis. 921, (919) Lea., 1852. 
\ Hope Thomas, (9 1 8), o. Faunce, dau. Ansel, gr. mo. 433. 
Eunice Thomas, (885), o. Shurtliff, dau. Gideon. 
Anna Thomas, w. Andrew, [d. 1853, a3. 75th. mo. 550], o. 

Thomas, fa. 649. br. 918, d. Ap. 12, 1833, x. 49. 
Lucia Ann Thomas, fa. 885, unm., d. No. 30, 1836, ?e. 20. 
Winslow Thomas, fa. 649, br. 918, m. Charity Thomas, 

[dau. of Isaiah, sis. 1077J, d. No. 14, 1843, re. 52. 
Huldah Thomas, w. of Benj'n, o. Hacket, dau. of Geo. sis. 

904, d. Se. 25, 1852, aj. 60th. 
Nathan King, m. Ellen Thompson, dis. 1847 to C. C. C. 
Charles F. Tliompson, fa. 935, sis. 927, d. Se. 3, '39, je. 23. 



Ill 



927 

928 
929 

930 
931 

932 

933 
934 



935 
936 



(626) 

937 
938 



939 

940 
941 
942 



1831. 

Ju. 5 



Au. 



1832. 

Ap. 1. 
Oc. 17. 

1833. 

Ma. 5. 
Ju. 2. 



1835 

Oc. 28. 

1836. 

Ja. 3. 

Mh. 6. 
" 6. 



943No. 6 

|l837. 
944Mh. 5 



945 
946 

947 



948 

949 

950 
951 
952 



« 5, 
" 5, 

Ma. 7, 



Ma. 7 

« 7 

« 7, 

'• 7, 

Ju. 2 



Floranlha Thompson, fa. 935, br. 926, sis. 871, 872, m. 

Granville T. Sproat, dis. '39 to La Pointe, L. S. 
Thomas Gisby, br. 773, m. Mehetabel Daniels. 
Simeon Staples, s. of Eben'r of Taunton, m. Lydia Sarapsonj 

[her. fa. 732], d. Ja. 17, 1833, ce. 37^. 
Susanna Cushraan, w. Adoniram, o. Bump, mo. 596. 
Freelove G. Rounseville, w. Gamaliel, o. Thompson dau. 

of Benj'n, sis. 897, gr. mo. 585, dis. 1847 to C. C. C. 
Mary Jane Eastman fr. Brunswick Me., m. Kev. Sam'l 

Utley, dis. 1838 to So. New Marlboro' 
Betsey Tinkham fr. Wrentham, w. of Geo. W., o. Cole. 
Matilda Wood, (1014), o. Thompson, dau. of Samuel and 
Clara, br. 916 ; dis. 1852 to C. C. C. 

Cephas Thompson, fa. 581, m. Olivia Leonard, (2d. w. 723). 
David Harlow fr. Brookfield, s. Jesse, m. — Finney, Re. 
in Plymouth. 

Desire Morse from Halil'x., unm., d. De. 29, 1851, x. 80. 
Ruth Reed, w. Sam'l., o. Sampson, dau. Icho. dis. '47 to 

C. C. C. 
Harvey Tinkham, s. of Hazael, gr. gr. fa. 148, (985) ; 2d. 
m. — Rarasdell. 

REV. ISRAEL W. PUTNAM fr. Portsmouth, N. H., 
8th Pastor, s. of Eleazer of Danvers, 1st m. Harriot 
Osgood, 2nd. m. (941), chi. 1006, 1036, 1057; (p. 44). 

Sabina Willis fr. Hal'x., w. Martin, o. Thompson, dau. 

Isaac sr., br. 981, gr. gr. gr. fa. 9, dis. 1849 to Hal'x. 
Julia Ann Putnam fr. Portsm'h. N.H., (939), o. Osgood, dau. 

of Sam'l and Maria of N. Y., 1st. h. S. Osgood jr., chi. 942. 
Adeline H. Osgood fr. Portsmouth N. H., mo 941, m. Wm. 

C. Eddy, [s. of Wra. S., gr. fa 633.] 
Caroline M. Pickens, fa. 896, mo. 897, dis. '47 to C. C. C, 

m. John McCIoud ; two brs. and h. on. p. 69. 

Joshua Eddy, fa. 633, br. 682, 718, sis. 683, (898). 

Harriet Hill, came fr. and returned to Boston. 

Elizabeth H. Washburn, w. Philander, o. Homes, dau. of 

Henry and Dorcas of Boston, dis. 1847 to C. C. C. 
Wilkes Wood, s. Eben'r., br. 801, m. Betsey Tinkham 

1798, [gr. fa. 345]; 2d. w. Betsey Thompson, 3d. w. 

(911), d. Oc. 1, 1843, re. 73. 
Chaki.es W. Wood, fa. 947, dis, 1839 to Ashby (p.55), m. 

Eliza Ann Bigelow, 2d. m. Catharine Lemist, o. Clarke. 
Emily Louisa Wood, fa. 947, br. 948, 953, sis. 950, 951, "t. 

gr. gr. fa. ad 4, dis. 1847, to C. C. C. ° 

Mary T. Wood, fa. 947, m. Russell L. Hathaway ; Re. in Ind. 
Sally Leonard, w. Jas., o. Wood, fa. 947, d. Ja. 1846, je. 43d. 
Irene Soule, w. Otis, o. Cushman, dau. Jacob, of Plymt. 



112 





11837 


95.3 


Se. 


o 




1838 


954 


Jy. 


1 


955 


Se. 


2 


95 G 


a 


2. 


957 


(I 


2. 


958 


a 


2. 


959 


(C 


2. 


9 GO 


u 


2. 


9G1 


a 


2. 


902 


No. 


4. 




1839. 


963 


Jcl. 


4. 


(673) 


Jy. 


6. 




1840. 


964 


Jy. 


5- 


(774) 


u 


5. 


965 


a 


5. 


966 


Se. 


6. 


967 


a 


6. 


968 


li 


6. 


909 


« 


6. 


970 


a 


6. 


971 


a 


6. 


972 


(I 


6. 


973 


ii 


6. 


974 


i( 


6. 


975 


u 


6. 


976 


a 


6. 


977 


u 


6. 


978 


(( 


G. 


979 


li 


6. 


980 


(( 


6. 


981 


IC 


6. 


982 


?5 


6 


983 


No. 


1. 



984 



William Henry Wood, fa. 947, br. 948, sis. 949, 950. 

Mary Ann Orringlon, came from and returned to Boston. 
Jane Ellen Eddy, fa. 944, br. 967, sis. 851, 969, m. Timothy 

Cobb, dis. 1842 to Carv , Kc. in Fall River. 
Lucy Harrington, w. Isaac, o. Raymond, dau. Joshua. 

j Lothrop Thomas Jr., mo. 1073, gr. gr. fa. 350, (958). 

( Louisa Faunce Thomas, (957), o. Thomas,fa. 918,br.l071. 
Saba S. Thomas, fa. 885, unm., d. De. 18, 1845, a3. 25. 
Mary Ann Thomas, mo. 921, m. Soranus Wrightington. 
Mary H. Thomas, w. Albert, o. Churchill, dau. Edmund. 
Mary Reed Atwood, w. Daniel, o. Whitmarsh, dau. Wm. 

Betsey L. Pratt fr. Bridgwater, w. Simeon o. Leach, dati. 

of Levi, of Bridg'r, br. 1048, d. Ap. 19, 1839, a;. 27. 
Lucy Fuller from Fairhaven, d. Se. 13, 1839, s&. 81^. 

Eliab Dean, s. of Seth of Raynham, (986), chi. 987. 
Hannah Coade fr. Dunkirk N. Y. 
Sarah Lawrence, w. Dan'l, o. Custens, dau of Thomas. 
Mary Ann Colwell, dau. Eben'r., m. Eben'r. Fuller, Hal'x. 
Charles E. Eddy fr. N. Bedford, fa. 944, dis. 1847 to Provi- 
dence, m. Elizabeth Simmons of Prov. 

Eliza Eddy, fa. 944, mo. 898, br. 967, sis. 851, 955, 969. 
Susan M. Eddy, fa. 944, mo. 898, br. 967, sis. 851, 968, 955. 
Ann Elizabeth Eddy, fa. 082, mo. 797, sis. 1010, (976), 

dis. 1844 to Bahimore, Md. 
Susanna M. Ellis, (680), 1st h. Freeman Barrows, o. 

Morton, sis. 898, s.914, dis. 1844 to N. Bedford. 
Jane Freeman, mo. 1061, sis. 1055, 1056, gr. mo. 856, (997), 

Re. in No. Bridgewater. 
Jerusha Haskins, w. Job, o. Raymond. 
Lucia Maria Nichols, w. James G., o. Cole, dau. Lemuel, 

gr. fa. 665. 
Harriet Orcutt, w. Alpheus, o. Soule, mo. 867 ; Re. in. W. P. 

William Pratt, s. of, Simeon, (970), dis. '42 to Bait. Md. 
Mahala Smith, w. Earl, 1st h. Alfred Soule, o. Shaw, fa. 654, 

dis. 1845 to Manchester N. H. 
Isaac Soule, 8d, mo. 867, m. Polly Fuller, dau. of Sam'l. 
Priscilla Soule, mo. 867, ra. S. M. Stephens, Re. in Boston. 
Rebecca Soule, mo. 867, br. 978, sis. 975, 979. 
Anna T. Thompson, fa. 705, br. 996, gr. fa. 747, m. Isaac 

Thompson Jr., d. in. Hal'x. Ma. 11. 1852, a;. 38th. 

Eunice Washburn, w. Lewis, o. Leonard, dau. Jonathan. 
Henry Dunham fr. Carv., s. of Israel of Carv., m. Louisa 

Jane Tratt, [fa. 772, sis. 864] ; dis. 1850 to C. C. C. 
Lucia C. Ellis, w. Southworth Jr., o. Thomas, dau. Noah, 

cr. fa. 350. 



1840. 



985 


No. 


1. 




i841. 


986 


la. 


4. 


987 


>( 


4. 


988 


a 


4. 


989 


a 


4. 


990 


ii 


4. 


991 


ii 


4. 


992 


a 


4. 


993 


a 


4. 


994 


li 


4 


995 


ii 


4. 


996 


ii 


4. 


997 


a 


4. 


998 


ii 


4. 


999 


ii 


4. 


1000 


a 


4. 


1001 


ii 


4. 


1002 


ii 


4. 


1003 


Ma. 


7. 


1004 


ii 


7. 


1005 


a 


7. 


1006 


Se. 


12. 


1007 


a 


12. 


1008 


a 


12. 


1009 


No. 


7. 


1010 


a 


7. 


1011 


a 


7. 




1842. 


1012 


Ja. 


2. 


1013 


ii 


2. 


1014 


a 


2. 


1015 


Ju. 


26. 


1016 


(( 


26. 


1017 


ii 


26. 


1018 


ii 


26. 


1019 


ii 


26. 


1020 


<( 


26. 


1021 


Se. 


4. 



1022 



4. 



113 



Jane Tinkham, (938), o.Cornisli, fa. 593, d. Se. 16, '48 se. '54. 

Lydia Dean, (964), o. Paddleford, dau. Solomon. 

Lois Dean, fa. 964, mo. 986. 

Charlotte Elizabeth Eddy, fa. 718, sis. 852, m. Rev. F. G. 

Pratt Pastor Winthrop Church. So. Maiden. 
Stephen Harlow Jr., gr. mo. 632, br. 990, sis. 991, (1029). 
Jonathan E. Harlow, s. Stephen sr., br. 989, Physician in 

Hingliam. m 

Sarah Harlow, br. 989, sis. 992, m. John A. Williams. 
Betsey B. Harlow, br. 989, sis. 993, m. John M. Soule. 
Mary L. Harlow, gr. mo. 632, sis. 992, 991, br. 989, 990. 
j Venus Thompson, mo.655. gr gr. mo. 372 and ad. 64,(995). 
( Jane Thompson, (994),o. Southworth, dau. Selh and Hope. 
Benjamin F. Thompson, fa. 705, sis. 981, ra. Sarah A. 

Wood, [dau. David, gr. gr. fa. 356, d. Ja. 10, 185J,ae.35]. 
Oliver G. Tinkham, fa. 938, (972), Re. in N. Bridg'r. 
Rachel Vineca, w. David, o. Vaughan, mo. 567. 
Dorlisca N. Vineca, mo. 998, ni. Francis Thompson. 
Lydia Vineca, mo. 998, m. Martin Wood of Hal'x. 
Bathsheba L. Wilder, (875), o. Murdock, dis. '47 to C. C. C. 
Abigail T. Wood, mo. 742, sis. 1003, gr. fa. 569. 
Mercy L. Wood, mo. 768, gr. fa. 747. 

Joanna Atwood, w. of Jacob, o. Wood, mo. 742, sis. 1002. 
Mary C. Wood, w. of Eliab Jr., o. Freeman, fa. 676, mo. <"^93. 
Harriet O. Putnam, fa. 939, br. 1036, sis. 1057, m. Charles 

F. Pierce, [s. Peter H., gr. fa. 868]. 
Sarah T. Thompson, w. of Reuel Jr. [fa. 705], o. Wood, 

dau. Alfred sr. and Rhoda, br. 1008. gr. mo 67?, 643. 
Alfred Woodiv. fr. Woodstock Ct, sis. 1007, Dea. '52. 
Lucy Ann Eddy, dau. Wm. S., gr. fa. 633, m. Dr. Geo. King. 
Mary Jane Plddy, fa. 682, sis. 970, m. Charles F. Thayer; 

Re. in Ogdensburg, N. Y. 
Alfred B. Soule, mo. 977, gr. fa. 664, 654, dis. 1845 to 

Manchester, N. H. 

( Adoniram J. Cushman, 930, (1013), dis. 1847 to C C. C. 
(Ann S. Cushman, (1012), o. Reed, dau. of Dean H., dis. 

'47 to C. C. C. 
Abiel Wood, s. of Timothy, sis. 877, (934), dis. '52 to CCC. 
Zilpha m. Clarke, w. Joseph 3d., o. Miller, dau. of John, 
mo. 882, gr. gr. mo. ad. 51 , dis. 1847 to C. C. C. 

Marston S. Morse, s. Sam'l, br. 1053, sis. 889, gr. fa. 549. 
Phebe Thomas, wid. of Israel, o. Thompson, dau. of Dan'l. 
Perry A. Wilbur, s, Jas.,m. Betsey B. Wilder, dis.'49 CCC. 
George Warren, fa. 696, mo. 685, unm. d. Ap. 21, 1848 ie.29. 
Mary Wood, w. Thomas J., o. Tinkham, dau. Levi, gr.fa.346. 
( Halford Earle fr. Brunswick Me., s. Frederic, (1022), 
J he and W. dis. 1847 to E. Thomaston Me. 

( Elizabeth Earle fr. N. Bedf'd., o. Barker, dau. Joshua. 



1023 

1024 

1025 

1026 
1027 

1028 
1029 

1030 

1031 
1032 
1033 

1034 

1035 

1036 

1037 
1038 

1039 

1040 

1041 
1042 

(790) 

1043 
1044 
1045 



1842. 

Se. 



« 4. 

« 4. 

" 4, 

« 4, 

« 4. 

" 4, 

1843. 

Ja. 1 

Ma. 7 



Ju. 



1844. 

Ja. 7. 

7. 



Ma. 

Jy. 



No. 



5 

7. 

7. 

7, 

3 

« 3. 
1845. 

Ja. 5 

" 5. 

Ma. 4. 

1846. 

Se. 6. 



114 



Eunice Perkins, (863), o. Bisbee, dau. of Joseph, gr. gr. 
gr, fa. 68, d. Se, 16, 1844, cc. 40. 
[Benj. F. Pratt, s. Benj. Jr., gr. ia. G46, (1025), Ee. to 
J Plymo. ; 2d. m. Bravley, d. Ja. 21, 1853, fe. 34th. 

] Abby B. Pratt, (1024), o. Morse, br. 1016, d. Jy. 14, 

[ '44, ffi. 25. 

Mahala S. Pratt, gr. fa. 646, br. 1024, m. Sam'l Morse Jr. 
Mary H. Thompson fr. Plymt., w. Edw'd, o. Bryant, da. 

of Micah. 
Eleanor B. Wood, mo. 751, sis. 800, dis. 1847 to C. C C. 
Bethiali O. Harlow fr. E. Bridg'r, (989), o. Keith, dau. Geo. 

Consider Eobbins fr. Carv., s. of Consider, m. Martha 

Richardson, dis. 1847 to C. C. C. 
Calvin Doane, m. Huldah Willis, [mo. 940], Re. 
Tliomas A. Pratt, fa. 772, sis. 864, m. Ruth C. Bradford. 
Abigail S. Pickens fr. Rochester, w. of Andrew J., o. 

Snow, dau. Linus of Eochester, dis. 1847 to C C. C. 

Mary Briggs fr. W. P., w. of Eben'r Jr., o. Dean, dau. 

Rev. Joshua Dean, d. No. 1, 1846, x 28. 
James Foley, s. Laurens and Catharine of Ireland, m. Sylvia 

Standish. ■\vid. Jn. C, o. Perkins, dau. Gideon. 

William F. Putnam, fa. 939, sis. 1006, dis. '49 to Brooklyn 

N. Y., d. in Middleboro', Feb. 11, 1853, ae. 25. 
Phebe H. Wood fr. Pawtucket, w. of Ansel, o. Hamilton. 




[ dau. Rev. Seth S., dis. '47 to C. C. C. ; a 2 d. m. in Vt. 

Hope Wrightington, dau. of David, dis. 1847 to C. C. C, 

unm., d. Ja 4, 1850, x. 43d. 

( JDea. Cornelius S. Burgess fr.New Bedf 'd,dis.'47 to C.C.C. 

( Melissa Burgess fr. N.B., (1041), o. Cobb, dau. Nehemiah. 

( Dr. John Perkins fr.No. Roch'r, (1043), dis. '47 to C.C.C. 
} Ann S. Perkins fr. N. Y. city, (790), o. Nelson, dau of 
/ Dr. Thomas [a native of Middleboro'], dis. '47 to C C.C. 

Joanna Brand fr. N. P., (Ind.) unm. d. Jy. 31, 1851, £e. 82 ? 

Almira Goddard fr. Roxbury, w. John H., o. Porter, dau. 
Aaron and Pauline, dis. 1847 to C. C. C. 



1850. 

1046!Ja. 6. Susanna B. Smith, w. Harvey, o. Robbins, dau. Manas'h. 

1047 Mh, 3. Ruth E. Dean, w. Wm., o. Baker, dau. Benoni and Hannah, 

1048 " 3. ( George M. Leach fr.Sandw.N.H.,s.ofLevi,sis.963,( 1049). 

1049 " 3. I Betsey E. Leach, (1048), o. Edson, dau. Ezra and Eliza. 
1050,Ma. 5. Consider Fuller, mo. 647, sis. 685, 799, gr. fa. 577, m. 

Mercy Thompson, dau. of Moses, [his gr. fa. 235.] 
105l| " 5.|Hannah W. Soule, w. Lewis, o. Smith, dau. Jabez, sis. 865. 



1850. 

10521 " 5. 



1053 
1054 



Jy. 7, 
No. 3, 





1851 


1055 


Ja. 


5. 


1056 


a 


5. 


1057 


ii 


5. 


1058 


a 


5. 


1059 


Ap. 


6. 


1060 


Jy. 


6. 


(722) 


<( 


6. 


1061 


li 


6. 


1062 


li 


6. 


1063 


u 


6. 


1064 


Jy. 


6. 




1852. 


1065 


No. 


7. 




1853. 


1066 


Ja. 


2. 


(847) 


<( 


2. 


1067 


11 


2. 


1068 


Mh. 


6. 


1069 


Ma. 




1070 


u 




1071 


u 




1072 


ii 


1, 


1073 


li 




1074 


(( 


1, 


1075 


u 




1076 


ii 




1077 


Jy. 


3! 


1078 


ii 


3. 


1079 


ii 


3. 


1080 


li 


3. 


1081 


11 


3. 


1082 


11 


3. 


1083 


No. 


6. 


1084 


" 


6. 



115 



Marcia Soule, (866), 0. Soule, dau. Thomas, gr. fa. 663, d. 

Oc. 20, 1853, ffi. 40th. 
Charles S. Morse, s. Samuel, br. 1016, m. Nancy W. Pratt. 
Elisabeth S. Smith fr. Hal'x, w. of Moses T., [gr. fa. 690, 

gr. gr. fa. 356], 0. Bourne, dau. Isaac of Hal'x. 

Mercy E. Bryant, w. of Ira, o. Freeman, mo. 1061, sis. 972 

1056, gr. mo. 866, gr. gr. mo. 486. 
Louisa Cornish, w. Josiah T., [gr. fa. 593, 664], 0. Freeman, 

mo. 1061, sis. 972, 1055. 
Julia Maria Putnam, fa. 939, br. 1036, sis. 1006, m. Alfred 

S. Thayer, Re. in Exeter, N. H. 
Sarah Jane Tinkham, dau of Enoch, gr. mo. 551, gr. gr. fa. 

592, Re. in Boston. 
Melinda B. Eddy fr. Fall River, (682), 0. Bordon, 1st m. 

to Rev Augustus B. Reed. 
( Rev. Elijah Dextkr fr. Plymt., s. of Elijah, late Pastor 
) there, (722), d. Oc. 10. 1851, as. 65. 

I Lydia Dexter fr. Plymt., (1060.) 
Virtue M. Freeman, w. of Josiah, 0. Morton, dau. Seth Jr., 

sis 789, gr. fa. 354, gr. gr. mo. 127. 
Elisabeth Littlejohn, w. Orsamus, o. Swift, dau. Jn. 
j Thomas Savery, s. of Neremiah, gr. gr. gr. mo. 43, (1064). 
(Penelope Savery, (1063,) 0. Swift, dau. John, sis. 1062. 

Susan H. Caswell, fr. Bridg'r, w. of Eleazer R., o. Caswell. 

Thomas Weston Jr., fa. 839, gr. fa. 834, 944. 

Adeline Cobb fr. Plym., w. of Heman, o. Cobb, mo. 684. 

Saba Adams Comstock fr. Dedham, w. of Dr. Wm. W., o. 

Sturtevant dau. of Thomas, gr. rao. 627. 
Elira Jane Eddy fr. Providence, w. of Joshua M. [fa. 944], 

o. Carpenter, dau of Hosea of Prov. 
Sarah A. Atwood, w. of Josiah, o. Bonney, dau. Ezekiel. 
Freeman T. Mc.Glathlin, s. of Tho., gr. gr. mo. ad. 85,(1077). 

( Seneca R. Thomas, fa. 918, sis. 958, gr. gr. mo. 443,(1072). 

( Zilpha B. Thomas, (1071), 0. Shurtliff, mo. 1081. 
Melinda Tlioma?, wid. of Lothrop, 0. Shurtliff, sis. 920. 
Clarissa Jane Thomas, mo. 1073, br. 957. 
Sarah Tyner, dau. of Michael and Susan of Ireland. 
Lydia Shaw fr. Plymt., wid. of Wm., o. Sampson, sis. 1080. 
Harriet Mc.Glathlin,(1070), 0. Thomas, dau. Isaiah, sis. 923, 

gr. fa. 350. 
Francis M. Shaw, mo. 1076. 

( Benjamin Shaw, fa. 648, mo. 566, gr. mo. ad. 85. 

( Bethiah Shaw, (1079) 0. Sampson, dau. Peleg, sis. 1076. 
Zilpha Shurtliff, wid. of Barnabas, o. Cole, sis. 893, 917. 
Mary M. Morse, w. Oliver, o. Goodwin. 
Salome Vaughan, w. of Wm. H., o. Willis, fa. 802, gr. fa. 762. 
Rhoda J. Savery, w. of Geo. S. [ia. 667, gr mo. 555], o. 
Churchill, dau. of Asaph and Rhoda, gr. fa. 720. 



11 G 



RESIDENT BRETHREN 





Admitted. 




Admitted. 


Darling, 




Savery. 




848, Alanson, 


1823. 


1063, Thomas, 


1852. 


Dean, 




Shaw, 




964. Eliab, 


1840. 


651, Samuel, 


1803. 


Eddy, 




1078, Francis M. 


1853 


682; Nathaniel, 


1807. 


1079, Benjamin, 


1853. 


718, Zechariah, 


1808. 


Smith, 




944, Joshua, 


1837. 


679, Levi, 


1807. 


Foley, 




Soule, 




1035, James, 


1844. 


863, James, 


1823 


Fuller, 




978, Isaac, Jr., 


1840 


1050, Consider, 


1850. 


Thomas, 




Gisby. 




885, Eleazer, 


1824 


773, William, 


1813. 


918, Seneca, 


1831. 


928, Thomas, 


1831. 


957, Lothrop, 


1838 


Harlow, 




1071, Seneca R., 


1850. 


989, Stephen, 


1841. 


Thompson. 




Leach, 




935, Cephas, 


1832 


1048, George M., 


1850. 


994, Venus, 


1841. 


Lucas, 




996, Benjamin F., 


1841. 


822, Job, 


1823. 


Tinkham, 




Mc.Glathlin, 




938, Harvey, 


1833 


1070, Freeman T., 


1853. 


Warren, 




Morse, 




696, John, 


1807. 


1016, Marston S., 


1841. 


Weston, 




1053, Charles S., 


1850. 


839, Thomas, sr., 


1823 


Pratt, 




1066, Thomas, Jr., 


1853 


772, Thomas, 


1813. 


Wood, 




1032, Thomas A., 


1843. 


953, William H., 


1837 


Putnam, 




1008, Alfred, Jr., 


1841 


939, Israel W., Eev. 


1835. 






NON- 


■RES1DE:^ 


VT MEMBERS. 





841, Atwood, Dr. Shadrach. 
877, Bassett, Mrs. Lydia. 
776, Brown, wid. Sarah. 
872, Bryant, Mrs. Cordelia. 

842, ( Buss, Martin. 

843, I " Mrs. Eliza. 
707, Cobb, Jacob. 

759, Curtis, Mrs. Sally. 
1031, Doane, Calvin. 
855, Drake, Mrs. Louisa. 
804. Elmes, Eliphalet. 
966. Fuller, Mrs. Mary Ann, 
769. Harlow, wid. Hepzibah. 
990. Harlow, Dr. Jona. Edwards. 
950, Hathaway, Mrs. Mary T. 
945, Hill, Miss Harriet. 
859, Holmes, Geo. L. 



954, Orrington, Miss Mary Ann. 

906, 5 Pool, Samuel. 

907, 1 Pool, Mrs. Lydia. 

826, Standish, Josiah O. 

900, Standish, wid. Jane. 

979, Stephens, Mrs. Priscilla. 

830, Taylor, Mrs. Lucy. 
1010. Thayer, Mrs. Mary Jane. 
1057. Thayer, Mrs. Julia Maria. 

869, Thomas, Daniel. 

640, Thompson, Rev. Otis. 

730, Thompson, Ezra. 

999, Thompson, Mrs. Dorliska N. 

997, (Tinkham, Oliver 6. 

972, ) Tinkham, Mrs. Jane. 

815, Wood, Mrs. Louisa. 
1000, Wood, Mrs. Lydia. 



117 



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ADDENDA. 



6 
7 
8 
9 
10 



11 
12 



13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 



l^' A portion of the first twelve of this addenda list appear by 
the transactions of the church to have been members ; others of 
them are known lo: g to have worshipped and communed here, and 
must have been members here or elsewhere. 

Pegge Rowland; dis. 1753 to 4th Church, Bridgwater. 

Anna Kalton, w. of ? ( Afr.), servant of No. 35, chi. bap fr. 1733. 

Nannie, (Afr.), serv't of Nos. 35, 47 ; d. Ju. 28, 1787, a?. 91st. 
Jacob Tomson, fa. 9, br. 2G8, sis. 180, 159, (ad. 3G),m. 1731, d. Mh. 

10, 1789, JB 94th. 

Isaac Perkins, of chii. in Carv., s. of Zephaniah, m. Mary Shurtliff, 
chi. 749, 790, d. Jy. 1839, aj. 95th. 
( Jacob Bennet, fa. 179, (ad. 7), m. 1751, d. No. 6, 1799, ss. 74. 
( Hope Bennet, (ad. 6), o. Nelson, d. Fe. 5, 1816, se. 84. 
( Elijah Perry, (ad. 9), d. Ja. 28, 1812. iE. 86th. 
"i Sarah Perry, (ad. 8), d. Jy. 25, 1813, as. 84th. 
Livy Morton, s, Eben'r, gr. mo. 127, (1 1), m. bef. 1790, 2d. m. 
Catharine Richmond dau. Stephen, d. Jy. 19, 1838, x. 78|^. 

Hannah Morton, (10), o. Dailey, dau. Abiel, d. Se. 4, 18u7, se. 47th. 
Rebecca ScoUay, dau. Benj'n of Mystic ; resident in Rev. S. Conani's 
fam. from 1759, unm., d. No. 15, 1801, se. 68th. 

l^' The following persons were in such covenant connection with 
the church as to be under its watch and care, and to enjoy the right 
of baptism for their cliildren. Some of them may have been in full 
membership with this or other churches. 

Samuel Chard ; ch, Joseph b. 1705, Wm. 1708, and bap. 1710. 

Samuel Cobb ; (w. Abigail) ; 5 ch. bap. fr. 1710 to 1718. 

" Shubael and Elisabeth Lewis 1709." 

Ann Winslow ; " bap. at Rochester June 1710." 

John Smith and Melatiah ; chi. bap. 1710. 

"James Coomes, Oc. 1710." 

Hannah Vaughan ; ) Bap., made conf. of faith in 

Mary Vaughan ; (prob. b. 1694. fa. 38,) S Christ and admit'dintoCov't. 

Jane Hall" chi. Tabatha bap. 1713; Charity, 1715. 

Lt. Elkanah Leonard; chi. Timothy bap. 1713. 



119 



23 

24 
25 
2G 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 

35 
36 

37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 
49 
50 
51 
52 
53 
64 
55 
56 
57 
58 
59 
60 
61 
62 
63 
64 

65 
66 
67 



1 



Wm. Thoma?, Jr., b. 1700, 

sis. 119, br. 298, (115). { These four were ' bap., made conf. of 
Joseph Thomas ; )■ faith in Christ and admitted into cove- 

Josiah Thomas ; nant, 1713.' 

Betty Cobb ; J 

Jerusha Conant, b. 1702, mo. 101 ; ) Made their relations, and 
Prudence Conant, b. 1707, mo. 101 ; f were bap. 1721. 
Elisabeth Thomas, b. 1698, br. ad. 23 ? made rel. and bap. 1715. 
Abiah Caswell ; made a relation and bap. 1722. 
Robert Mackfun ; (w. 72) ; ' Bap. in Scotland ; restored to cov't.' 
.John Drew Jr. ; fa. 78, m. Susanna Bennet, 1728. ) Made conf. and 
Thomas Drew ; fa. 78 ; d. Ju. 14, 1770 ? j bap. 1724. 

Geo. Vaughan, fa. 38, and w. (166), owned the covenant and he was 

bap. 1728, 1st w. Rebecca, d. 1718; he d. Ap. 11, 1766, se. 83d. 
Elisabeth Bobbins, w. Jn., her chi. bap. fr. 1727 to '38. 
Elisabeth Holmes, w. Jn. bef. 1724, o. Tilson, 2d. m. (ad. 4), d. Au. 

8, 1773, se. 74th. 
Samuel Fuller, fa. 28, br. 94, 156, (146) ; 6 clii. bap. fr. 1729. 
Thankful Eaton, (226), o. Alden, fa. 32, d. Oc. 29, 1732, se. 26. 
Mary Thomas, br. ad. 23, m. Jacob Soule 1731, d. Mh. 1, 1749, ge. 49. 
Eunice Thomas, br. ad. 23, (336), d. Ap. 8, 1778, ge. 69. 
Betty Thomas, b. 1716, br. ad. 23, m. Jona. Wood, Bridg'r, 1737. 
Sarah Holmes; her chi. Hannah bap. 1733. 
Mary Holmes, w. Thomas m. 1731, o. Sproat. 
Gers'hom Sampson, br. 193 ? (224) ; chi. bap. fr. 1729. 
Eben'r Wood, fa. 7, (429), chi. bap. fr. 1729, d. De. 5, 1768, se. 71. 
Samuel Warren Jr. ; fa. 174, m. Rebecca Dunham, 1734. 
Cornelius Warren, b. 1710, fa. 174, chi. bap. fr. 1736. 
Wm. Canedy, (432) ; ' Wm. Esq., of Taunton, d. Ja. 23, 1774.' 
Susanna Miller, w. David, m. 1728, o. Holmes ; removed. 
Lt. Joseph Bennet, s. of Peter, (273), d. Ja. 1742, ae. 38th. 
Priscilla Bennet, br. ad. 50, m. Jn. Miller 1735, d. Oc. 7, 1754, se. 44th. 
Wm. Nelson, " of a chh. in Ireland ; " 3 chi. bap. fr., 1730. 
Joel Ellis, (190), 6 chi. bap. 1730, d. Ju. 21, 1763, se. 85th. 
J Barna. Eaton, fa. 15, w. Mehita'l, 2 w. (ad. 55), d. No. 1790, a3.90th. 
( Elisabeth Eaton, (ad. 54) m. 1743, o. Clemens ? 
Jabez Wood, b. 1686, fa. 13, m. Mercy Fuller 1716 ; 7 chi. bap. 1732. 
Robert Barrows, b. 1709, fa, 59, (248), d. bef. 1761. 
Eben'r Morton, sis. 80, 131, 134, (127), d. Ma. 12, 1750, ae. 64th. 
Mary Palmer, b. 1715, fa. 21 ; relation read and bap. 1732. 
Samuel Tinkham sr., fa. 46 ? m. 1718, 1730, d. Mh. 16, 1775, te. 87. 
Thomas King, (279) ; his chi. bap. fr. 1733. 

Mary Savery, w. Jn. jr., m. 1729, o. Thomas, d. Jy. 20, 1778, se. 71st. 
Content Weston, w. Jn., [his 2 w. (347) ; he d. Au. 18, 1768, a?. 73.] 
Martha Tomson, w. of Thomas 2d. m. 1732, o. Soul, mo. 55, d. Mh. 

18, 1772, 3d. 70th. 
John Smith, s. of Jn., (313). m. 1736, d. De. 13, 1748, a3. 46th. 
Mary Shaw ; chi. bap. 1737. A wid. Mary d. Ma. 18, 1793, se. 89. 
Ichabod Barden, b. 1705, s. of Jn., m. Bethia Elmes, chi. bap. 1737 



120 



68' Jedldali Wood ; chi. bap. 1737. Que? 263.- 

69 Mrs. Sampson, w. Peleg; ; chi. bap. 1739. 

70 Amos Bates and w. Jemima; their chi. bap. 1730. 

71 Esther Bennet, w. Eben'r Jr., owned cov't, and chi. bap. 1739, d. 

Jy 5, 1776, X. 70th. 

72 Jane Brown; her chi. bap. 1739. 

73 f James Warren, b. 1711, fa. 174, (ad. 74), | Made relations and them- 

74 ( Mary Warren, (ad. 73), \ selves and chi. bap. 1739. 

75 Joanna Barlow, w. AVm. ; her chi. bap. fr. 1738 to '52. 

76 Elisabeth Whaley, w. Alexander ; her chi. bap. 1740. 

77 j Gershom Cobb Jr., b. 1714, l"a. 272, (ad. 78), their chi. bap. 1740. 

78 j Miriam Cobb, (ad.77), m. 1739, o. Thomas, mo. 136, d. Ja. 31, 

1748, ffi. 27. 

79 .Joseph Harris, (w. Hannah), " His chi. bap. 1741." 

80 Mrs. Clarke, w. of John, " Her chi. bap. 1741." 

81 Jn. Montgomery ; m. Mary Strowbridge, 1735 ; chi. bap. 1742. 

82 Gideon Southworth, fa. 135, (308), d. Oc. 25, 1788, ve. 70th. 

83 Lemuel Harlow sr., (w. Joanna), " His chi. bap. 1745." 

84 Benjamin Pratt sr., (w. Lydia), 6 chi. bap. fr. 1745. 

85 Mehitabel Thomas, w. Sam'l 2d., 10 chi. bap.fr.l746 to '64.o.Barrows ? 

86 Jonathan Shaw Jr.; 5 chi. bap. fr. 1746-56. 

87:Sarah Morse, w. David, chi. bap. 1748 " on her account." 
88'joanna Reed, w. of Beth, 4 ch. bap. fr. 1750 to '60. 
89'john Tilson, (480?) chi. Patience bap. 1750. 

90 Elisabeth Ellis, w. of Wm., o. Lazell, 1st. chi. bap. 1753. 

91 Nathan Tinkham of Hal'x., b. 1725, fa. 93, chi. bap. 1756. 

92 Joseph Waterman, (w. Joanna), chi. bap. 1756. 

93 Abigail Hacket, w. Eben'r, m. 1757, o. Thomas, chi. bap. 1760. 

94 Mary Willis, w. Jas. m. '59 o. Thomas, chi. bap. 1762; d. Ja. 5, 

1795,86. 69. 

95 Deborah Billington, w. Seth, o. Smith, mo. 313, 2 chi. bap. 1763. 

96 John Phinney, sis. 585, (586), chi. bap. fr.l781,d. Ap. 2, 1785, ae. 24^. 



ADDITIONAL DEATHS OF MEMBERS. 



Since the decease of Miss Elizabeth Barker, (D. C. No. 788) in 
Chicago, her friends there have forwarded to this church, from among her 
papers, " A Bill of Mortality kept in the First Precinct in Middleboro' 
from and after December 5, 1781, by Joseph Barker." This MS. book 
of her father appears to be a careful record of 827 deaths, specifying the 
"occasion," or disease, up to the time of his decease, "July 25, 1815, 
aged 62 years and nine months." From it are gathered the following 
deaths of church members, which we had not found from other sources. 
The number will show their place in the Descriptive Catalogue : 



315 Alice Anthony d. De. 2, 1786, 33. 80. 
207 Mary Bennet, wid. d. Ap. 2, 1785, ce. 

79th. 
265 Eebecca Darling d. Se. 16,l782,se.9.3. 
289 Wid. Dunham d. Mh. 27, 1801, 

X. 97th. 
524 ElkanahElmesd.Nov.l9, 1809,fe.82. 
146 Wid. Silence Fuller d. Jy. 23,1786,8e. 

83i. 



406 Samuel Pratt d. Ap. 20, 1794, se. 78- 
374 Japhet Rickard d. Nov. 25,1798,88.74. 
206 Wid. Sampson d. De. 7,l794,se. 

86th. 
333 David Sears d. Au. 20, 1788, a2.78. 
216 Wid. of Jona. Snow d. Ap. 20, 1783, 

oe. 69th. 
322 Wife of Jas. Willis d. Ja. 5,l795,£e.69. 
218 Susanna Thomas, mo. 45,br.424,425, 



521 Wid. Maxfield d. Mh. 11, 1787, i 350, unm. d. Ma. 15, 1785, cc. 75. 

re. 88th. | 372 Wife of Dan'IVanghand.Fe. 1,1791, 

485 Francis Pomeroy d. Ja. 23, 1807, se.? | se. 73. 



ORDER DURING WORSHIP. 

" Thy WAT, God ! is in the sanctuary ; 
Who is so geeat a God as our God V — Psalm Ixxvii : 12. 

To show the views of the Rev. Peter Thacher — our much venerated 
pastor, more than a century since — we give below his letter on this 
subject from the church records, under his hand, in accordance with 
another on page 23 : — 

LETTER. 

''My letter to some who loould run out from the public worship at the last 
singing, before the public blessing, Sept. 18, 1737. 

To Mr. AND HIS Wife. 

Dear Friends : — As long as [it was proper in] charity to suggest a 
cover for your abruptly breaking from the public worship, I was silent. 
But your manner of leaving it of late obliges me, as your friend and 



122 

watchman, to beav solemn testimony against such a practice, if not 
forced to it by bodily indisposition. I solemnly beseech, and in the 
name of God, charge you to consider what you do when you pour such 
contempt upon the institutions of the Lord Christ, whom you have taken 
for your King, and promised subjection to Him in all His institutions. 
God hath appointed His ministers to bless His worshiping assemblies 
in His name. What do you, if you needlessly turn your backs on this 
blessing, but say, " 'tis comtemptible," and so are in danger to carry 
away a curse instead of a blessing ? If all should do as you do, where 
would the order of God's house be ? What a sad and sinful example 
do you set before vain persons, to whom you ought to be exemplary ? 
How do you grieve the hearts of them which you ought not to make 
sad ? Every time you do so, you break the covenant of God with your 
brethren with whom you have promised to walk orderly. If you, with- 
out the pressing necessities of the body, do so for time to come — which 
I hope God will, in His mercy to your souls, keep you from — this will 
be a witness against you, and the guilt of so evil, so God-dishonoring a 
practice, must lie at your door and not mine, who am your grieved and 
affectionate friend and pastor, 

" Peter Thacher." 

As it is a material order of the house of God, that at the close of the 
service the minister should pronounce the benediction upon the congre- 
gation, it is obviously important that they should give a most reverential 
attention while the Divine blessing is thus implored. 

The early seating also of the congregation before the service com- 
mences, adds much to the solemnity and good order of public worship. 

These orderly attentions are well approved by the church and people 
in this place, and in general may be observed. Late arrivals at the 
meeting-house in the morning may cause some irregularity, but prompt- 
ness in joining the assembly in the afternoon is expected of alL Those 
also who have the care of children should instruct them in these things. 

" Those that be planted in the house op the Lord, 
" Shall flourish in the courts of our God." 



NOTES. 



Page 3. Indian Churches. In 1098, Rev. Grlndal Rawson, of Mendon, and 
Rev. Samuel Danforth, of Taunton, were commissioned by the Society for 
propagating the Gospel among the Indians, to visit, and did visit, the several 
plantations in the Old Colony, and made their report; 10 Hist. Col. 129 — 134. 
Extract : " There are at Assowampsit and Quittaub twenty houses and eighty 
persons. John Hiacoomes, preacher and constant schoolmaster. Mr. Jocelyn 
preached at Assowampsit. At Kehtehticut are forty adults, to whom Charles 
Aham preached." All these places are in Middleborough. Kehtehticut, Co- 
tuticut, and Tetiquid are different spellings of Titicut. Quittaub might be an- 
other name for Nemasket, or it might be " Betty's Neck." 

Titicut is mentioned as a place "of praying Indians. Rev. Mr. Backus says 
in his account of Middlcboro', (1 Hist. Col. 150), " ABaptist church was formed 
among them [at Titicut], and Nehemiah Abel, Thos. Sekins, Thos. Felix [see Des. 
Cat. 324], and John Symons are teachers among them. When I came here 
[1747] John Symons was the minister of that church, and continued so for 
near ten years, and then he removed to the southward. He assisted in ordain- 
ing Silas Paul on Martha's Vineyard in 1763. One Indian gave five acres, 
and two others fifteen acres of land for the ministry in Titicut. 

Nehemiah Bennet, Esq., gr. fa. D. C. 179, wrote an account of Middleboro,' 
(1 Hist. Col. 3), and respecting the Indians in town, says, " There^is a settle- 
ment of them descended from the ancients, on ' Betty's Neck,' [perhaps the 
same as Quittaub], eight houses and eight families ; the general number is ft'om 
30 to 40." 

This was in 1793. He says, " they raise good crops which they sell for rum, 
and live afterwards by making baskets and brooms. They are subject to hec- 
tics, and half that are born are carried off by consumptions." 

Page 34. Rev. Samuel Fuller had also a son Jahez, who died June, 1712, 
and whose widow, Mercy, married Joseph Vaughan, No. 38. 

Page 3, at foot. The Indian name of the " Long Pond " is " Pontaquahot." 

Page 4. It was not intended to give a list of the twenty-six purchasers, but 
such of them and their representatives as were in town in 1675, when the 
settlement was attacked by the Indians. The names of the purchasers were : 
" Francis Sprague, John Adams, George Partridge, Francis Cooke, Thomas 
Bordman, William Pontus, Samuel Fuller, Edward Bumpus, Francis Bil- 
lington, William Brewster, John Shaw, Edward Gray, (two shares.) Resolved 
White, William Hodskins, Andrew Ring, Moses Simmons, William Nelson, 
John Howland, George Soul, Phillip Delano, William Mullens, Peter Brown, 
Samuel Eddy, Matthew Fuller, William Twining." It should be mentioned 
that the Indian churches referred to on the third page, were gathered by the 
instrumentality of Rev. Mr. Bourne, of Sandwich, and Rev. Mr. Treat, of 
Eastham (son of Gov. Treat, of Connecticut) whose labors for the conversion 
of Indians were not surpassed by the apostle Elliot himself, there being at that 
time fifteen hundred of them formed into churches in the Old Colony. 

Page 36. Rev. Mr. Tkacher. Backus, in his Church History, says : " He 
was much engaged in and after the glorious revival of 1741, and his success 
was so great that there were above 340 communicants in the church when he 
died." " 

Page 38. iteu. S. Conant, No. 468, married, about a year after his ordina- 
tion, a lady of Boston whose name was called Bethan or Betell, (perhaps it was 

Bethune). She died in about a year after marriage. His second wife was 

Williams of Roxbury, (perhaps daughter of Dr. AVilliams,) who lived a num- 
ber of veavs and was the mother of a daughter named Hannah, who died in 



121 

infancy. His third wife was admmitted to this church in 1758 by a letter from 
the church in " Norwich,"and — as appears by a letter written by Mr. Conant, 
expressive of his deep affliction, to her father, and which was printed at New 
London by her friends in the ranie year of her death, 1759, — was the daughter 
of Col Hezekiah Huntington. A son, Hezekiah, was born Nov. 7, 1758, bap- 
tized Nov. 12th, and died in infancy, leaving Mr. C. childless. A friend, Miss 
Scollay, (ad. 12J, became a permanent resident in his family at or soon after his 
third marriage, and conducted his household aflliirs until his death in 1777; 
in which period she acted as guardian of two young orphan neiccs. One of 
them became the wife of the late Dr. Joseph Clarke, and the other, succes- 
sively, the second wife of Daniel Thomas, and Capt. David Thomas, (Nos. 544 
and 546). After Mr. Conant's decease, Miss Scollay tenanted the Dr. Peter 
Oliver house, (now Capt. Earl Sprout's) and Rev. Abraham Camp (p. 41) 
boarded with her. She was esteemed a person of much excellence of charac- 
ter. The inscription on her grave-stone in " the Green " Cemetery is as follows : 

" Great peace have they who love God." 

In memory of Miss Rebecca Scollay. 
■RTio died Nov. 15th, 1801 in her 68th year, 

" The ways of God were her delight ; 
Her faith was strong, her hope was hright." 

In 1 760 Mr. Conant adopted Deborah Conant then five years of age and the 
daughter of his brother. Deborah married the late Nathan Lazell of Bridge- 
water. The above in part has been furnished us by descendents. There is no 
record or monument in town of the first and second wives of Mr. Conant. 

Rev. Isaac Backus says : " Mr. Conant ministered to good purpose until his 
decease." 

Page 39. In respect to Mr. Weld he says, when a law was passed, " giving 
liberty to the people to attend which meeting they pleased, the friends of Mr. 
Weld grew sick of him, and used violence against him, until _^they got him 
away, and obtained a dissolution of their Society." 

P. P. 52, 54. Deacons. — Lost Records. The table of deacons on p. 117 
corrects some errors on these pages. The following extracts from the church 
records Indicate two deacons at least, acting In 1721 and 1722, while this table 
shows but one from 1718 to 1724. 

" Feb. 16, 1720-21. The deacons together with brother Isaac Fuller, [Desc. 
Cat. 91] were desired to take the most proper aud speedy methods for recover- 
ing the ancient and original records of the affairs of this church to the time of 
their present settlement." [I. e. to 1708]. 

" Dec. 19, 1721. Brother Isaac Fuller brought a remnant of the ancient rec- 
ords and delivered to P. Thacher." 

This " remnant " we know nothing' farther of; but the copy, p. 13, by Eben- 
czer Fuller, the nephew of Isaac, may have been made from it. 

"May 13. 1722. Voted that the two deacons br. King and Sam'l Wood do 
meet," &c. 

P. 55. Three of our people became ministers of the Gospel, and joined 
other churches: — Daniel Thomas, minister in South Abington, Al van Cobb 
in West Taunton, and Stetson Raymond in Assonet and Scotland [Bridge- 
water]. Of the members, eleven were ministers of the Gospel, and about the 
same number phyicians, or counsellors-at law. 

P. 63. — The west precinct was incorporated as a town in the year 1853, by 
the name of Lakevllle. 

Parish Reco7-ds. The book of records commencing with the separation and 
ordination of Rev. S. Conant has not been in possession of the parish Clerk for 
some years ; and the committee have thus been deprived of access to it. The 
course pursued by Mr. Bosworth, p. 13, Is commended to all who possess docu- 
ments of historic value to this church and parish. 



TWO DISCOURSES 



ON 



THE DIVINE FAITHFULNESS, 



AS ILLUSTRATED IN THE HISTORY OF THE 



FIRST CHURCH IN MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASS. 

DURING THE PERIOD OF 

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS. 
By ISRAEL W. PUTNAM, 

EiaHTH FASIOB. 

PREACHED JANUARY 5, 1845. 



, FIRST DISCOURSE. 

Psalm CXIX, 90. Thy Faithfdlkess is unto all Generations. 

This day, my hearers, completes the period of one hun- 
dred and fifty years from the foundation of the First 
Church in Middleborough, — the Church of Christ, which 
was then gathered on this ground, and with which we 
are variously connected. 

When we reflect on the length of this period, on the 
four or five generations which have passed away with it, 
on the number of ministers who have here preached the 
gospel of Jesus Christ, on the many hundreds of mem- 
bers, of whom the church has at different times been 
composed, and on the several sanctuaries, in which the 
church and the people have worshiped: — when we 
reflect that this beloved church still survives the period 
of a century and half, and that it is looking forward with 
the prospect of living for centuries yet to come : — and 
when, moreover, we consider that all the blessings it has 
experienced, and all it hopes for, are to be attributed to 
the grace of its covenant-keeping God, we may well 
adopt the language of the text, and say unto Him, 
" Thy faithfulness is unto all generations." 

From the records which have been preserved, it ap- 
pears that this church was organized on the 26th day of 
December, A. D. 1694, old style, which corresponds with 
the 6th day of January, according to the present mode 
of computing time ; so that the hundred and fiftieth 
anniversary actually comes to-morrow ; still, this day 
closes the period under consideration, and for all practi- 
cal purposes may be regarded as the anniversary day. 



The general sentiment of the text appears to be the 
faithfulness of God to his church on earth. But the subject 
to which I shall specially call your attention to-day, is 

The faithfulness of God to this particular Church 

DURING ITS existence FOR ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS. 

My plan is 

I. To consider the attribute of the Divine Faithful- 
ness ; and 

II. To show how it has been illustrated in the his- 
tory of this church. 

Let us, then, in the first place, 

I. Meditate on the glorious attribute of God's faith- 
fulness. This divine attribute is intimately connected 
with another, which is denominated Truth. They may, 
however, be considered separately. By the truth of God 
is intended that disposition in him, by which he always 
speaks of things as they are in reality ; so that we know, 
that whatever he speaks or in any way declares, is essen- 
tiall/j true. 

T\\Q faithfulness of God refers to his disposition and his 
power always to perform his promises and fulfil his cov- 
enant engagements. It assures all the subjects of his 
moral kingdom, that they will never be disappointed in 
any of the expectations, justly raised in theirminds by the 
declarations of his word, or the dealings of his hand. 

This attribute of God has its foundation in the other 
essential properties of his nature ; — or, we may say, it 
necessarily belongs to the character of Him, who in his 
knowledge, power and goodness, is " infinite, eternal 
and unchangeable." As the most perfect conception we 
can have oNruih, is that which we know essentially be- 



loDffs to the character of God, so without the attribute of 
faithfulness, that same character would appear essentially 
defective. That Being who is absolutely infinite in his 
knowledge, power and goodness, must necessarily be 
true to all the engagements he enters into with his crea- 
tures. He has no possible inducement to make promises 
which he has not power to perform, or whose perform- 
ance is not d^asirable in itself. He foresees with absolute 
certainty, the circumstances in which his engagements 
are to be fulfilled, and what also will be the consequence 
of their fulfilment. His infinite goodness inclines him 
to make promises to his creatures of all that his infinite 
knowledg-e foresees w^ill be desirable for them and that 
his infinite power is capable of accomplishing. 

Thus you see, my hearers, that the argument from the 
other known and perfect attributes of God, for his faitli- 
fidness, is entirely conclusive ; and what our reason 
teaches us on this subject, is confirmed by the plainest 
declarations of scripture, and is illustrated by God's cov- 
enant dealings with his people, in all ages. The lan- 
guage of scripture is very explicit, — " The Lord thy 
God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth cove- 
nant and mercy with them that love him and keep his 
commandments, to a thousand generations." " Ye know 
in all your hearts and in all your souls," said Joshua to 
the people of Israel, " that not one thing hath failed, of 
all the good things which the Lord your God spake con- 
cerning you." " Thy faithfulness," says the Psalmist, 
" shalt thou establish in the very heavens." And the 
apostle says to the Thessalonians, " Faithful is he that 
hath called you, who will also do it ; " and to the Hebrew 
Christians, " Let us hold fast the profession of our fiiith 
without wavering; for he is faithful that promised," 



But it is very important for us to consider that the 
promises of good which God makes to his people, are con- 
ditional. He stipulates what he will positively do for 
them on the condition they will " love him and keep his 
commandments." When, therefore, any of his true peo- 
ple enter into covenant engagements with the Lord, 
whether as individuals or in the capacity of a church, 
if they fail of strictly performing the conditions made on 
their part, they must consider that by thus breaking cov- 
enant with God, they release him from doing what he 
had conditionally promised, and that their appeal'can then 
be onlf/ to his mercy. It is in the relation which his people 
thus come to sustain toward him, that God manifests that 
patience and forbearance toward them, which so effect- 
ually illustrate hisfaithfidness. For although they are 
guilty of a breach of covenant with him, yet so great is 
his love for them, and so much does he desire to remind 
them of the blessings which he was willing to bestow, 
that, actuated by his long-suffering goodness, he actually 
confers upon them many of those favors which were 
promised in his covenant, — not to their original extent, 
but so far, and in so sovereign a manner, as to show that 
he never ceases to remember the gracious provisions 
and promises of that covenant. This is most expressly 
and beautifully illustrated in what God says of the seed 
of the righteous, in the 89th Psalm. " If his children 
forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments ; if they 
break my statutes and keep not my commandments ; 
then will I visit their transgressions with the rod, and 
their iniquity with stripes ; nevertheless, my loving kind- 
ness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my 
faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, 
nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." 



This general principle of the divine faithfulness, this 
constant regard for the provisions, perpetuity and honor 
of the everlasting covenant, is seen to display itself in 
the dealings of God with the whole body of his church 
on earth, and with all the different portions of it. 

It is by taking this view of the adorable attributes of 
the Divine character, and of the covenant faithfulness 
of God to his people, that we can come to a satisfactory 
explanation of all his dealings with individual believers 
or with any portion of his church. They are often guilty 
of breaking covenant with him, and thus they forfeit all 
claim to those blessings which had been promised them 
on condition of strict obedience. Then they suffer for 
their sins by God's withholding those tokens of his love, 
which he would otherwise have manifested. 

This accounts for what individual helievers often suflfer. 
They violate their covenant vows, and God does not 
then bestow on them what they might otherwise have 
enjoyed ; and he sometimes proceeds to chasten them 
for their sins. He visits them with temporal trials, and 
not unfrequently with spiritual afflictions. The light of 
his countenance is withdrawn, and they walk in dark- 
nesss ; and sometimes he judicially leaves them to grea/t 
coldness in his service, to much wandering from the path 
of christian duty, and even to the commission of open 
sin, which brings reproach upon their own characters, 
and scandal upon the christian name. 

But it is to be remembered that in thus chastening indi- 
vidual believers for breaches of his covenant, and in after- 
wards mercifully appearing for their relief, by bringing 
them to repentance and recovery from their wandering 
state, God acts eiitireli/ as a sovereign. He suffers some to go 
on farther than others, in their backsliding course ; and 



8 



the strokes of his chastening rod are heavier on some 
than on others, even when their sins are no greater. 
So also he appears for the restoration of some sooner 
than for that of others ; and all this because he is a sov- 
ereign and deals with his offending people, now in a 
chastening and now in a pardoning way, for reasons 
which he does not mean that either they or others shall 
be able fully to comprehend. 

So it is with his church on earth, considered collec- 
tively. So it is with different portions of it, and with each 
individual church. Believers, in their collective capacity, 
from time to time fail more or less in strict obedience 
to their covenant engagements with God. The sins of 
individual believers become the sins of the church, espe- 
cially if they are open sins and not protested against and 
properly censured. 

The departure of a church from the strict terms of 
their covenant with God, is generally much more grad- 
ual than that of individuals. This is seen in their falling 
away from sound christian doctrine. It has sometimes 
taken not only years, but generations, for a church to 
give up " the faith once delivered to the saints," and to 
come fully to embrace an unscriptural one in its stead. 

The same is true of the ordinances belonging to the 
covenant of God, under the christian dispensation ; which 
are. Public Worship, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. 
Loose and erroneous views of these ordinances are gen- 
erally found to prevail in a church, if at all, in a very 
gradual manner, till at length the departure is open to 
the view of the world and offensive to God. 

So also it is with the tone of moral conduct in a 
church. Sometimes it is such as becomes the gospel of 
Christ ; at other times more or less of its members leave 



thelf first love ; they cast off fear and restrain pra3''er. 
Like the heathen " they become vaiu in theif imag- 
inations, and their foolish heart is clatkened." They 
yield to the " lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the 
pride of life," till their sins of commission or of omission 
are so open and reproachfid as to call for the reprehen- 
sion of the church. 

But, as has been observed, such a downward course of 
any considerable number of the members of a church is 
generally very gradual ; and in this connection it may 
be remarked, that very gradual also is the conduct of a 
church in coming to neglect that discipline which Christ 
has appointed, and which is so essential to its welfare. 
If 013 public sin is tolerated in a church, and if, on ac- 
count of fear or favor, or from any other cause, a flagrant 
oflender is suffered to go on unrebuked and uncensured, 
others will yield to temptation, and fall into the same 
or other sins, till at last there is left in the church scarcely 
streno;th enouo'h to undertake and sustain the neces- 
sary and saving work of scriptural discipline. 

These remarks on the religious declension of individ- 
ual christians and churches, I have made, my hearers, 
to meet the difficulty which is sometimes felt in vindi- 
cating the divine faithfulness, a difficulty which I do not 
wish to avoid. For if the inquiry is made, how it comes 
to pass that individual christians do sometimes so lament- 
ably decline in their spiritual interests, conduct, and 
whole character, even after they have entered into cov- 
enant with God, who has made such " exceeding great 
and precious promises " to them, and wdio is a faithful 
God ? — And if the further inquiry should be made, why 
it is that churches, established at first in the true faith 
of the gospel, and whose members are members of 
2 



10 



Christ's own body, should after a while cease to hold 
fast that faith, and should become cold in their religious 
affections, worldly in their conduct, and lax in their dis- 
cipline, even when they had the covenant promises and 
faithfulness of God pledged to them ? The answer to 
all this is easy. The faithfulness of God to his covenant 
engagements does not obligate him to keep his people 
in either their individual or their church capacity from 
committing sin. They remain free moral agents, and 
are put upon trial as such. All needed good, God prom-' 
ises them on condition of strict obedience to him. But 
if they fail of this, if they break covenant with God, he 
is released from all obligation to confer on them what 
they might otherwise have received. And if the inquiry 
is now made, whether they are not still his people ? 
the answer is, yes ; and he will still deal with them as a 
faithful God. His dispensations toward them will, in 
one view, be in the nature of just punishment for their 
sins, but in another they will be the fatherly corrections 
of loving kindness and faithfulness. In the disciplinary 
course which he pursues with them on account of the 
violation of their own vows and engagements, he pro- 
ceeds, as has already been remarked, in an entirely sov- 
ereign manner. He has infinitely wise reasons for cor- 
recting and restoring them at one time mmediatelf/, and 
for suffering them at anoilier to go great lengths in 
disobedience, and even to accumulate a heavyweight of 
guilt, before he corrects them, and causes them to return 
from their evil ways, by repentance and vows of new 
obedience. 

But there is a very noticeable difference in the ulti-' 
mate dealings of God with individual believers and with 
churches respectively. Those who are his chosen people^^ 



11 



renewed by his spirit, and sanctified by his grace, will cer- 
tainly, according to the gracious provisions of his cove- 
nant, be finally saved. They may forsake his law, they 
may break his statutes, so that Grod will visit their trans- 
gressions with the rod ; nevertheless he will not utterly 
take his loving-kindness from them, nor suffer his faithful- 
ness to fail. Such is the teaching of the New Testament, 
as well as of the Old. ' He who begins a good work in the 
heart of any sinful child of Adam, will perform it until 
the day of Jesus Christ.' Thus the tenor of God's gra- 
cious covenant secures the final salvation of every true 
believer, while none but God himself knows who are of 
this character. 

But such is not the tenor of God's covenant dealings 
\N\.\h. dbWj particular church. All true believers in such a 
church, as I have already stated, will be finally saved, 
because the promise of God secures their salvation. But 
the church itself may so decline from its primitive purity 
in doctrine, conduct and discipline, that God will finally 
forsake it. Its individual members, if they are true mem- 
bers of Christ's body, he will save, whether they live and 
die in connection with such a church, or elsewhere. 
But the church itself, if it persevere in its departure 
from christian faith and christian obedience, beyond the 
point of divine endurance, will inevitably come to nought. 
Its light will be extinguished, its name will die. Such 
we know is the history of some churches planted in apos- 
tolic times, and in subsequent ages of the world. 

But I would by no means be understood here to say 
that Q.YQVJ local church which, after a lapse of time 
ceases to exist, comes to its end in consequence of its 
departure from the gospel ; for in many instances it is 
for the welfare of the church at large, that individual 



12 



portions of it should cease to have a separate existence, 
and become united with some other portions. Thus 
also, sometimes, are larger portions of the church seen 
gradually diminishing, till they become united with other 
christiiin connections, and appear under a new name. 

It requires, my hearers, much careful study of the 
word of God, and much observation on his dealings with 
his church on earth, duly to understand the import of 
those promises, on whose due fulfilment rests his charac- 
ter for covenant faithfulness. Against the church, consid- 
ered in its largest sense, as the great body of believers 
in all ages of the w^orld, bought with Christ's own blood, 
we know that the gates of hell will never prevail. And 
in its most exact sense are the words of my text true, 
when applied to the church in this respect ; " The faith- 
fulness of God is unto all generations " of his chosen, cov- 
enant people, in every age, and in whatever part of 
the world they dwell ; whatever name they bear, or 
whatever be their rank or condition in life ; and by a 
very observable analogy in the dealings of God with 
his people, we may see that his faithfulness endures to 
any large portion of his church or to any one particular 
church, very much in proportion to its own faithfulness 
in adherino; to its covenant vows and en^ao-ements. If 
it is at first established in the truth ; if it is " built upon 
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ 
himself being the chief corner stone ; " if it adheres to 
the doctrines, if it shows forth the graces, if it practices 
the virtues of the gospel, and if it seeks the glory of its 
divine author, — we may observe, as a general thing, that 
its divine head is pleased with its character, and that in 
his covenant faithfulness he will w^atch over its interests, 
and continue its existence for along period. True, per- 



13 



seciition may arise against it, and other inscrutable dis- 
pensations of providence may affect its prosperity and 
even its existence. But so well defined in his word are 
the principles on which God governs his church on 
earth, and so uniform are his dealings with the various 
portions of it, that his faithfulness is very gloriously 
illustrated in the favor which he shows any individual 
church that fears his name and w^alks in his statutes. 
The word spoken by the prophet Azariah to God's an- 
cient people, has a strict 'fulfilment in the history of his 
dealino-s with his church in all aofes. '• The Lord is with 
you, while ye be with him ; if you seek him, he w^ill be 
found of you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake 
you." 

Let us now, my hearers, as was proposed, proceed to 
consider 

11. How the divine faithfulness has been illustrated 
in the history of this Church, during the period of one 
hundred and fifty years. 

You perceive, at once, that the field of inquiry and 
remark on which I am now entering is very wide. I 
shall be obliged, as I proceed, very much to limit myself 
in selecting from the facts of our history, and in the rea- 
soning which is founded on them. But it relieves my 
mind on this point, to know that a committee of the 
church are preparing for publication such a particular 
account of its history, as I might otherwise deem it im- 
portant to furnish on this occasion. Still, I trust that, 
with divine aid, I shall be able to exhibit such brief views 
of the subject, as may lead you, my friends, and all the 
present generation of this people, to see that the God 
of your fathers is " a faithful God, keeping covenant and 
mercy with them that love him and keep his command- 
ments, to a thousand generations." 



14 



1. The first proof of God's faithfulness to this churcli 
is found in the consideration that he has graciously sus- 
tained it, in adhering to the great gospel principles on 
which it was originally established. 

That we may clearly see the truth of this remark, it will 
be necessary to dwell somewhat particularly on the cir- 
cumstances of the formation of the church. As I have 
already remarked, it was organized in the winter of 
1G94-5, bearing the date of December 26th, old style. 
The present day, Jan. 5th, closes the hundred and fif- 
tieth year of its existence. 

The gathering of the church in Middleborough, at that 
early period of the history of New England, was an in- 
teresting event. The town was very large in its territo- 
rial dimensions, and its population had even then 
become very considerable ; for it is stated that at the 
breaking out of king Philip's war, so called, in 1675, the 
number of English families that had settled here was 
sixteen ; and although they were then driven from the 
place, yet at the close of the war the population must 
have rapidly increased, as Mr. Fuller, a deacon of the 
church at Plymouth, and one of the proprietors in 1669 
began early to preach here and continued his labors with 
occasional intermissions till 1694, w^hen, at the gathering 
of the church, he was regularly ordained to the work 
of the christian ministry. 

All the original records of the church from its organ- 
ization to the close of the ministry of Mr. Palmer, the 
second pastor, are, no doubt, irrecoverably lost; and, as 
has generally been supposed, through his neglect, or his 
other more censurable conduct. But recently an an- 
cient manuscript has come to us from Halifax, which 
proves to be a copy of an important part of those original 



15 

i'ecords, made in March, 1734, by Ebenezer Fuller, a 
grandson of the pastor. This copy of the records, togeth- 
er with a pamphlet printed in 1722, containing the 
Confession of Faith and Covenant, and specific acknowl- 
edgments of the obligations of the covenant, enable us 
now very clearl}^ to understand the interesting and sol- 
emn character of the ororanization of the church. 

Several members of the church of Plymouth, and 
other neighboring churches were then residing here. 
There were others also, who had become hopefully con- 
verted under the preaching of Mr. Fuller. These per- 
sons, being very distant from any churches with which 
they could hold constant christian communion, naturally 
had the desire and conceived the design of being them- 
selves formed into a distinct church. In accordance, 
therefore, with the usages of the pilgrim churches, they 
sent letters for ministers and brethren in the colony, to 
come and perform the requisite ecclesiastical services. 
The Rev. Messrs. John Cotton, Roland Cotton, and Jona- 
than Russel, with lay brethren, were sent from Plymouth, 
Sandwich, and Barnstable, to assist on the occasion. 

As it may be gratifying to this audience to hear the 
names of those who at first composed the church of 
Middleborough, I will here repeat them : — Rev. Samuel 
Fuller, and Elisabeth his wife ; John Bennett, and Deb- 
orah his wife ; Jonathan Morse, and Mary his wife ; 
Abiel Wood, and Abigail his wife ; Jacob Thompson, 
and Abigail his wife ; Ebenezer Tinkham, and Elisabeth 
his wife ; Samuel Wood, Isaac Billington, Samuel Eaton, 
Samuel Cuthbert, John Cobb, Jr., Weibrah Bumpas, 
Hester Tinkham, and widow Deborah Barden. 

The services were of a very solemn character, as you 
would readily see, my hearers, if there were time for me to 



16 



read to you the articles of faith which they adopted, the 
covenant which they entered into, and the partictdar 
obhgations which they considered to be imposed on 
them by that covenant. 

Respecting the confession of faith, I would only say 
now that it was very full and explicit on all those doctrines 
which our pilgrim fathers considered as clearly revealed 
in the scripture, viz : — the inspired authority of the Old 
and New Testaments, as a sufficient and the only rule of 
faith and practice, in opposition to all opinions of indi- 
vidual men, and all decisions of ecclesiastical councils ; 
a trinity of persons in the God-head ; the supreme divin- 
ity of the son Jesus Christ ; the personality and divinity 
of the Holy Spirit ; the total depravity of the human 
heart in its natural state, and its renewal by the sove- 
reign operation of the Holy Spirit ; atonement for sin 
by the blood of Christ, and justification by his righteous- 
ness alone ; election and perseverance of the saints ; 
resurrection of the dead and final judgment of the world, 
Avhen the righteous will be received into heaven and 
the wicked be cast into hell. 

As to Positive Institutions, they held to the com- 
mon belief of the sacredness of the Sabbath, and the 
sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; the for- 
mer to be administered to believers and their infant off- 
spring, and the latter to all who are regular members of 
the church of Christ. On the subject of Church Consti- 
tution and Government, they held that a Christian 
church was a company of christian believers, voluntarily 
associated for their own religious improvement, with 
rules of conduct agreeing with the scriptures, and them- 
selves having authority to administer censures on mem- 
bers who walk disorderly, and not being required to 



17 



refer their decisions to any other earthly tribunal ; all 
which, considered in connection with their views of the 
two sacraments, and of the respective offices of pastor 
and deacon, gave, as they believed, the true idea of a 
congregational church. 

The covenant which they entered into, and which is 
very particular in its stipulations, bound them in the 
most solemn manner to the love and service of God, to 
great respect for and subjection to the christian ministry, 
and to all true christian deportment and duty to one 
another. 

I regret that it is not practicable for me here to recite 
to you the whole of the confession of faith and covenant 
in the very words used on the occasion, as they were 
very well selected and convey a very clear meaning to 
every mind, while they show a spirit of deep and heav- 
enly piety on the part of those, who adopted them. But 
I trust you will yet have an opportunity to read it all 
in another form, which shall be preserved for your chil- 
dren and your children's children, as evidence of the 
exalted christian character of their ancestors. 

After the church was duly constituted, in accordance 
with the confession and covenant already named, Mr. 
Samuel Fuller, then at the advanced age of seventy years, 
was duly ordained as its first pastor. 

Such, my hearers, was the gathering, one hundred 
and fifty years ago, of this beloved church, which yet 
lives. Such were those christian men and women, who 
at that time were here engaged in the solemn transac- 
tions which so deeply concerned their own salvation 
and that of their posterity for generations to come. I 
shall, with divine leave, in the afternoon consider more 
particularly than I have here done, how God, in his cov- 



18 



enant faithfulness, has sustained this church during all its 
generations, in adhering to the principles on which it was 
originally founded. 

And now I beg you to pause a little and reflect on 
the scene exhibited here on this ground, in the winter 
of that far distant year of the foundation of this church. 
You will remember that Middleborough was not then 
what it now is. These cultivated fields, these convenient 
roads, these comfortable dwellings, this goodly sanctuary, 
and these numerous conveniences for coming to it, were 
all unknown to your pilgrim fathers and mothers, who 
assembled here on that cold day of January, 1695, and 
stood up in simplicity and Godly sincerity, as well as 
with holy reverence, to avouch the Lord Jehovah to be 
their God, while He avouched them to be his people. 
No, they knew nothing of the favored condition in 
which we are placed, for attending on the worship of 
God ; nor did they need it ; for they were christians of 
the generations that are gone. Theirs was the early 
pilgrim character, strong in faith, devoted in purpose, 
self-denying in practice, and fearless in conscientious 
obedience. 

From what particular parts of the Plymouth colony 
most of them came, is now unknown. Some were from 
the original place of landing, being children of the very 
people who came over in the May-flower and first plant- 
ed their feet on the Plymouth Rock. Others probably 
came from England in subsequent years. But here they 
sought a dwelling place, here they fixed their home ; 
and although these grounds were not then so ^ waste 
and howling ' as were the shores of Plymouth in 1620, 
yet they were little better than a " wilderness," compared 
with what they now are. But such was the character 



19 



of the early settlers of this town, so much were they like 
the generation, who went before them, such lovers of 
religious and civil liberty, that they little heeded the 
humble circumstances in which they were necessitated 
to worship that God, whom they loved and served. 

They believed they were here founding a church, in 
which they were to hold communion with their Saviour, 
and which they were to leave to their children for gene- 
rations to come. They rejoiced, therefore, to give them- 
selves up first to the great Jehovah, Father, Son, and 
Holy Ghost, and then to one another in him. They were 
heartily wiUing to bind themselves to his service by the 
most solemn promises and vows. They believed that he 
was a faithful God, and would fulfil all his covenant 
engagements. They trembled only for themselves. 
They knew their own weakness. They felt the danger 
they were in, by reason of their sinfulness, of violating 
their covenant vows. Could you hear the solemn pro- 
testations which they made against the evil of departing 
from God, by failing in any way to live a truly christian 
life, you would be convinced how great was the tender- 
ness of their conscience, and what abhorrence they felt 
in view of all sin. 

As you, my christian friends, who are their successors, 
are now going to observe the same holy ordinance which 
was administered to them upon their being constituted 
a church of Christ, let me say to you, come with adoring 
gratitude to a faithful and covenant-keeping God, to the 
same table, which was spread here in 1695, for those 
primitive christians of Middleborough ; and come too, 
under the influence of the same holy dread of sinning 
against God, and with the same entire consecration of 
yourselves to the service of the Kedeemer, which you 



20 



have seen manifested in their example. They are gone, 
long since, to sit down at the " marriage-supper of the 
Lamb ; " and to that heavenly feast you also will finally 
be admitted, if you are found clothed with the wedding 
garment which the Saviour hath purchased for you, at 
the price of his own blood. Amen. 



SECOND DISCOURSE. 

Psalm CXIX, 90. Tht Faithfulness is unto all Generations. 

A considerable part of my morning discourse was 
occupied, as you will recollect, my hxcarers, in consider- 
ing the general attribute of the Divine Faithfulness. I 
proceeded, however, a little way, in *showing what was 
proposed in tJie second place : — 

II. How the Faithfulness of God has been illustrated 
in the history of this church. 

1. The first consideration, which I presented to show 
the truth of this sentiment, was, that God has graciously 
sustained the church in adhering to the great gospel 
principles on which it was originally established. 

I have already stated, that these principles were a 
belief in the doctrines commonly called The Doctrines 
of the Reformation, an exercise of the Graces, and a 
careful practice of the Virtues enjoined in the gospel, — 
together with a due observance of its Positive Institutions, 
— such as the Holy Sabbath, Baptism for penitent believ- 
ers and their infant oflspring, and the sacrament of the 
Lord's Supper to be administered to all who make a 
credible profession of the gospel, and maintain an orderly 
walk as members of the church. 

From what I have said respecting the formation of 
this Church, at the distant period of one hundred and 
fifty years, you have been able to see how strong was 
the attachment of its original members to the great 
christian principles here enumerated. We have the 
most satisfactory reason to believe also, that God smiled 



22 



upon the church at its organization. Then did the High 
and Holy One here enter into solemn covenant with his 
chosen, devoted people. He pledged his everlasting 
faithfulness to them as a church ; nor has that faithful- 
ness ever failed. Trials he has, at different times, sent 
upon them. Early afflictions, and severe ones they had, 
soon after they were organized, as we shall presently see, 
when we look at the sudden departure of their first pas- 
tor, and the character of his successor. But at no period 
of the history of the church has there been a professed, 
or a real abandonment of any of the great principles, on 
which it was at first established. 

Other churches, formed at that time, and in this part 
of New England, have forsaken " the faith once deliv- 
ered to the saints," the faith of their Pilgrim Fathers^ 
and have gone over to the side of religious error. But 
it has been otherwise with this church. During the 
period of a century and half, it has steadily adhered to 
a firm belief in the great Doctrines of the Cross. It has 
been willing to settle no minister, who was known to 
reject these doctrines. 

It has, at different times, varied the form of its Eeligious 
Creed ; but under no form, which it has ever adopted, 
so far as I can discover, has it given up any one essential 
christian truth, which was in its original confession of 
faith ; and it may be well doubted, whether, with the 
exception of some slight phraseology, it has ever had a 
better one than it had at the beginning. 

The same may be said, as a general truth, respecting 
the prevailing sentiment of the church on the subject of 
practical religion. It is very obvious, that our fathers of 
the first generation of this church regarded a life of prac- 
tical piety as an indispensable part of christian character, 



23 



and as a uniform condition of church membership. Their 
confession of faith, their covenant engagements, their sol- 
emn protestations against sin in all its forms, show in a 
most convincing manner, what stress they laid upon true 
Holy Living. Nor has the church, at any time, varied its 
belief, if it has, in any degree, its practice, on this subject : 
and that would be a day of ill omen to its future prosper- 
ity, that should show a willingness, on the part of its 
members, to regard anything, short of a life of vital god- 
liness, as evidence of real christian character, or that 
would dispense with it as a necessary qualification for 
admission to their communion. 

As intimately connected with this subject may also be 
considered that of Church Discipline. The original cove- 
nant of the church fully provided for this ; and in accord- 
ance with it, a strict discipline was maintained. But it 
was a church discipline for the benefit of ofienders, as 
well as for the honor of the Saviour's name. It consisted 
in a kind and faithful watch over one another for mutual 
good ; and the measures adopted to reclaim any who 
had gone astray, were those of gentleness and love, 
remonstrating with an offender on the folly and ingrati- 
tude, as well as wickedness of his conduct ; in a word, 
it was to gain a wandering brother, and bring him back 
to christian obedience, and not to denounce him as an 
evil doer, or by any imposing measures of church author- 
ity, to aim at holding him up before the world as a rep- 
robate. Still, it was their practice to withdraw from an 
ofiending member who would not hear the voice of the 
church, and henceforth to regard him according to the 
Saviour's direction, " as an heathen man and a publican." 

Such have been the views of this church on the sub- 
ject of discipline. Not that we can say it has been as 



24 



well understood, and as strictly and carefully enforced, at 
all times, as it was with the first generations. But the 
church has ever professed its belief that its prosperity 
could never be hoped for, unless in the preservation of 
the purity of its members. 

But I would remark once more under this head, that 
the church has been sustained in adhering, to a com- 
mendable extent, to a practical regard for the Positive 
Institutions of the'gospel, as it found them acknowl- 
edged and observed by those of the first generation. 
The Sabbath was kept very strictly by the Puritans of 
New England ; and this church has ever regarded it as 
a day of holy rest. Our Fathers also attached great 
importance to the ordinance of Christian Baptism. 
They held, not only in common with all christian 
denominations, that those, who had never been baptiz- 
ed, should receive that ordinance on their admission to 
the church ; but that it was also to be administered to 
the infant children of God's covenant people. The 
church was strictly a Pedobaptist church. All its 
ministers have been of that sentiment, as were its other 
officers, and its several members for many generations. 
Great harmony has generally prevailed in the church 
on this subject, and great spiritual blessings, it is believ- 
ed, have come not only to the church, but to the souls 
of this people in consequence of the early consecration 
of the children of believers to God in the holy ordinance 
of baptism. I am aware that, very recently, some change 
of sentiment and practice has obtained in the church. 
They have, in their charity, cordially admitted to their 
communion some, who have differed from them on this 
point, — always, however, I believe, with the understand- 
ing, that such practice should not, in its ultimate influ- 



25 



ence, have the 6ffect of changing the character of the 
church from what it had been from the beginning in a 
Peclobaptist respect, or in any way prejudice the 
rights and privileges of those, who hold that the bles- 
sings of God's gracious covenant extends to the seed of 
believers. This is not the time for discussing that 
point ; if it were, much could I say in support of the 
scriptural character of the practice in question. 

The other ordinance, — that of the Lord's Supper,^! 
hardly need say has ever been sacredly observed by the 
church ; and, as connected with it, I would add, that 
it has been an invariable principle with the church to 
receive none into their communion, who did not give 
credible evidence of being subjects of a gracious re- 
newal by the Holy Spirit, and of saving faith in the Lord 
Jesus Christ. Invitations also for occasional commun- 
ion they always cheerfully extend to " all members of 
other churches, who are in regular standing in their own 
connection." 

But I am dwelling long upon the first topic : and, yet 
I have not seen how I could say less than I have done. 
Will you now, my friends, turn your minds, and see how 
God's faithfulness to this beloved church has been man- 
ifested in the gracious aid he has given them to adhere, 
for so long a period, to the great gospel principles in 
which it was established by the fathers of the first gen- 
eration, — principles, which they had received as a spirit- 
ual legacy from their fathers of many preceding gener- 
ations. Long since have the pious founders of this 
church gone to their heavenly rest,— while through the 
covenant mercy and faithfidness of God, the church, 
Avhicli they loved, has continued to walk in the faith 
mid order in which, with strong confidence in Hirji and 
many prayers, they left it at their departure. 



26 



2, The faithfulness of God has been illustrated in the 
history of this church, in the enjoyment of an evangeli- 
cal ministry which, from time to time, He has bestowed 
upon it. 

Many churches in the christian world, and some in 
our beloved New England have declined from the 
simplicity and truth of the gospel by reason of the 
defective or erroneous teaching of those, who were 
placed over them in the ministry. But so great has 
been the loving kindness and faithfulness of God to this 
church from the beginning, that it has been saved from 
such unhappy influences. 

The whole number of ministers, settled over this 
church is eight; six of wh'om are deceased. 

The first of these was the Rev. Samuel Fuller, who 
was a son of Dr. Samuel Fuller, one of the first company 
who landed upon the Plymouth Eock, A. D., 1620. The 
distinguished talents, and eminent piety of the father 
proved a rich blessing to the son.' For several years 
the latter was a deacon in the church at Plymouth; and 
under the advantages which he enjoyed in that place, 
he made such progress in general knowledge, and par- 
ticularly in Christian Theology, that he was licensed to 
preach the gospel in the colony, and labored in that 
employment in this town about sixteen years previously 
to his ordination, which, as I have already stated, took 
place immediately after the organization of the church. 

It is impracticable now to come at much knowledge of 
the peculiar character of his preaching. That he was 
eminently pious, and devoted to the ministerial work, — 
that he preached the plain great truths of the gospel, 
and faithrnlly did the work of an Evangelist, is evident 
from the success which attended his ministry, from the 



27 

highly evangelical character of the confession of faith 
and covenant, originally adopted by the church, of 
which he was undoubtedly the author, and from the 
affectionate rememberance, with which his name has 
ever been cherished by all succeeding generations. 

But his ministry, after his ordination, was very brief, 
lasting for only seven months and twenty-one days. He 
died in the seventy-first year of his age, and was interred 
in the first burying-place, commonly called the Hill. 

The second pastor of this church was Rev. Thomas 
Palmer, a man of memory unblessed in his connection 
with the ministerial office here. Whence he came is not 
known. I cannot find that he had ever received a public 
education. Nor, in consequence of the loss of all the 
records during his ministry, does it appear when he was 
ordained. That the character of his preaching was de- 
cidedly evangelical, we have strong reason to conclude 
from the circumstance of hisbeingr settled over a church, 
recently organized on such strictly evangelical principles, 
and having long enjoyed the spiritual ministrations of 
such a man as the lamented Mr. Fuller. 

But the painful discovery was made, (how soon after 
his settlement it does not appear,) that his moral charac- 
ter was defective, — a discovery, which, as we might well 
suppose, produced a strong sensation of dissatisfaction 
and alienation in the church. In accordance, therefore, 
with the advice of a Council of twelve churches, and 
also of the anniversary convention of ministers in Bos- 
ton, he was, by the Church here, on June 30, 1708, 
deposed from the ministry, and excluded from their com- 
munion at the sacramental table. There are some con- 
soling reflections, however, which we are happy to make 
on his subsequent history. He remained in the place, 



28 



and so far retrieved his character, as to be employed for 
many years as a practising physician among the people ; 
and, near the close of his life, was restored to the com- 
munion of the church. He was interred in the burying 
ground on the Green. 

But we are now comino; to a better and briijhter 
period in the history of the christian ministry in this 
place. 

The third pastor was the Eev. Peter Tpiacher, whose 
praise was in his own day, and long will be, in the 
churches of this community. He was son of Eev. 
Peter Thacher of Milton, and grandson of Rev. Thomas 
Thacher of Weymouth, who was subsequently first min- 
ister of the Old South Church, Boston. Mr. Thacher, 
the pastor of this church, was graduated at Harvard 
College in 1706, at the age of seventeen. In about a 
year from that time, he began to preach to this church 
and people, in circumstances of great difficulty, inas- 
much as Mr. Palmer continued, for some time, to preach 
in a private house to a portion of the people, who adher- 
ed to him, notwithstanding the course which had been 
pursued with him by the church.* But Mr. Thacher came 
to thjs place in the spirit of his master. His aim was to 
preach the gospel, and so highly did he commend himself 
in that character that on June 30th 1708, he was chosen 
by the church as their pastor, before he was twenty 
years old. His ordination, however, did not take place 
till Nov. 2, 1709. 

Mr Thacher brought to the work of the ministry here 
a mind of strong native powers and highly cultivated 
by fhe uncommon advantages he enjoyed under the 
instruction of his reverend father, whose library is said to 

*Rev. Mr. Barker's Century Sermon. 



29 



have been richly furnished with the works of the learned 
and pious puritan authors, and whose house was a great re- 
sort of the most eminent ministers of the day. But, beside 
a mind thus well disciplined for his work, he had a heart 
to love it. His soul was deeply imbued with the spirit 
the gospel ; and from inclination, as well as from a sense 
of duty, he gave himself wholly to his work 5 and truly 
may it be said of him, that " his profiting appeared to 
all." His knowledge of the scriptures was deep ; his 
manner of presenting divine truth to the minds of his peo- 
ple was clear, persuasive, and convincing ; his addresses 
at the throne of grace w^ere humble, solemn and ardent ; 
his life was circumspect, and eminently christian. As we 
might expect, God blessed the labors of such a man. 
Under his ministry the church constantly increased for 
many years in numbers and in strength. But toward 
the close of his life he became much discouraged by 
what he considered a growing indifference to spiritual 
things in the.church and among the people. He serious- 
ly contemplated preaching a farewell sermon, and leaving 
his charge ; and declared to his biographer that he 
should have done it, had he not been embarrassed in 
findino; a suitable text. 

But this season of discouragement was not long j for 
in 1741 he saw among the people of his own charge the 
beginning of that reviving work of God which continued 
for more than two years. The out-pouring of the spirit 
here was sudden, powerful, extensive, and long-contin- 
ued. With all the powers of his body, mind and heart, 
he engaged, at home and abroad, in the work of that 
memorable revival of religion. He labored in gather- 
ing in its glorious fruits, till his strength was finally 
exhausted. His death occurred April 22, 1744, in the 



30 



fifty-sixth year of his age, in the thirty-fifth of his minis- 
try, and just before the expiration of the first half 
century of the church's existence. He was interred in 
his own tomb, then and till recently the only one in the 
burying ground near this house. How great a loss was 
such a man to the people of his charge, and how deeply 
lamented by them was his death, I need not, my hearers 
attempt to tell you. A very full account of this emi- 
nent minister of Christ by his brother-in-law, the late 
Rev. Thomas Prince of Boston, was given in the 
pamphlet published and circulated among you two years 
ago. But less than I have now said of him could not 
be omitted, while I was endeavoring to show you, that 
God had graciously bestowed on this church a truly evan- 
gelical ministry. And now, my hearers, bear in mind, 
that the gift of such a minister was continued evidence 
of the faithfulness of God. 

The death of Mr. Thacher was succeeded by some se- 
vere trials for the church. A revival of religion like 
that, which was experienced in the three last years of 
his life, could hardly be expected to take place without 
exciting some feelings of hostility on the part of those, 
who did not sympathise with its character and spirit, 
and who failed to come under its sanctifying and saving 
influences. 

Such persons, therefore, a few of whom were mem- 
bers of the church, became active in inducing the Par- 
ish to take an unprecedented course in the choice and 
settlement of another minister. This innovation the 
church resisted, and as the event showed successfully^ 
But the occurrence was a disastrous one for the time. 
It occasioned a division in the Parish, a majority of 
w^hom, with a small minority of the church, kept the 



31 



control of the Meeting House, and procured preaching 
for themselves. In the meantime the church with the 
other part of the people, proceeded in the common 
course for the settlement of the christian ministry. 
Leaving, in a peaceable manner, the House where they 
had long assembled, they withdrew and worshipped 
for a time in a private dwelling. 

The Rev. Sylvanus Conant, of Bridgewater, became 
the fourth Pastor of the church, and was ordained over, 
it on March 28, 1745, less than one year after Mr. 
Thacher's death. Mr. Conant was graduated at Harvard 
College, in 1740. He was a man of good talents, of 
deep piety, and of great circumspection in his personal 
and official deportment. Being of an uncommonly 
amiable temper of mind, he was well calculated to be a 
peace-maker in the midst of a people, who had unhap- 
pily fallen into much religious strife as well as actual 
division. As a preacher, Mr. Conant was plain, evan- 
gelical and forcible. Like his predecessor, his great aim 
was to do good. He well understood the design and 
the spirit of the gospel, and he was faithful in feeding 
the sheep and the lambs of his Master's flock in this 
place. 

As a proof of the truth of these statements, it may 
be considered that the church under his care proceeded 
to erect a new and separate Meeting House, leaving the 
old one to the majority of the Parish, who, with the small 
number of the church that adhered to them, in a few 
months after Mr. Conant's ordination, procured the settle- 
ment over themselves of Rev. Thomas Weld ; who, in 
the lan2;uao:e of Mr. Barker, " continued with them for a 
few years, his party gradually leaving him, and going to 
the other meeting, till, at length, he was dismissed : 



32 



and then the church and society which had been rent 
asnnder were again happily united." 

A very clear statement and able defence of the course 
pursued by the church at this critical period of their 
history, was given in a printed pamphlet in 1746, by 
Kev. John Cotton, pastor of the church in Halifax. 

Mr. Conant's ministerial course was brought to a sud- 
den close by the pestilence of the smallpox, of which he 
died, Dec. 8th, 1777, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, 
and the thirty-third of his ministry. " He was called 
from his labors," Mr. Barker remarks. " in the midst of 
his usefulness, and in the full possession of the love and 
esteem of his large flock." He was interred in the 
Eastern part of the parish, in a separate burying place, 
with several other persons, who died at the same time 
and of the same disease. Mr. Conant's memory has 
been cherished with deep interest by the two genera- 
tions of this people, who have followed him. It is one 
of the pleasant things of my own ministry, occasionally 
to hear the few aged ones, who personally knew him, 
and who are still surviving here, speak of the excellen- 
cies of his character. I would only add that his whole 
history, as a minister of the gospel, is one more evi- 
dence of the faithfulness of God to this church. 

The Fifth Pastor of the church was Rev^. Joseph Bar- 
ker of Branford, Conn. He was graduated at Yale 
College in 1771, and was ordained to the pastoral office 
here Dec. 5, 1781. Four years had passed away from 
the death of Mr. Conant, while the church and the peo- 
ple were without the stated ministry of any one man. 
These were years of great trial to the church of Christ 
in this land, occurring as they did in the midst of the 
Revolutionary War. Mr. Barker, of course, entered 



B3 



upon his labors here at a very difficult period. He was a 
man of acknowledged abilities, sound in the faith, clear, 
forcible, and fearless in preaching the great doctrines of 
the gospel. He was abundant in labors ; and his ministry 
was attended with a good degree of success, especially in 
the first part of it, when his mind and time were less 
devoted to the public interests of the country than was the 
case in subsequent years. His death occurred on July 
25th, 1815, at the age of sixty-three, and when he was 
in the thirty-fourth year of his ministry. He was inter- 
red in the burying ground at this place. Thus, in the 
fifth pastor, the faithfulness of Grod secured to the church 
an evangelical ministry. 

The Rev. Emerson Paine, still living, was the Sixth 
Pastor of the church. He was graduated at Brown Uni- 
versity in 1813. His ordination here took place Feb. 
14, 1816. Mr. Paine was justly considered a man of 
distinguished talents and piety. His preaching was of 
the same character as that of his predecessor. It' was 
highly evangelical, and such as strongly commended it- 
self to the church. He was settled here in peculiarly 
trying circumstances, and with reluctance on his 
own part. After repeated requests to the church to 
unite with him in calling a council for his dismission, 
they finally yielded, and it took place on the 4th of 
June 1822, and in the seventh year of his ministry. 

The 'Rev. William Eaton became the Seventh Pastor 
of the church March 10, 1824. He was graduated at 
Williams College in 1810, and settled in the ministry in 
Fitchburg, previously to his installation here. His 
ministry, which lasted ten years, maintained the same 
evangelical character with that of his several predeces- 
sors. At his own request he was dismissed, April 1, 
5 



34 



1834. He was afterwards settled, successively, in Char- 
lotte, Vermont, and Hardwick in this State. His health 
failing him at the latter place, he sought a dismission 
from his charge, gave up the ministerial work, and died 
soon afterwards at West Brookfield, in 1840, aged fifty- 
six. 

It is now only to be added that the present Pastor, 
who is the Eighth, was installed here Oct. 28, 1835, after 
a previous settlement of twenty years over the First 
Church and Parish in Portsmouth, N. H. Of the char- 
acter of his own ministry, he can of course, say nothing. 
But he trusts that from the view he has given of the 
character and labors of his predecessors, he has made it 
appear^) that in them, God gave to this church a truly 
evangelical ministry in token of his faithfulness to the 
covenant, which he entered into with its founders. 

3. The third proof of the same truth, is found in the 
consideration that God has in his Providence, from time 
to tirne, given to the church, in connection with the 
people, suitable places for his worship, for the preach- 
ing of the gospel, and for the administration of its ordin- 
ances. 

The First Meeting House was situated near the 
dwelling of the late Dr. Sturtevant. It was prob- 
ably standing there at the organization of the church, 
and was occupied during the ministry of Mr. Fuller^ 
and remained till the year 1700. 

The Second House was erected on what is now called 
the Green, and near the location of the present school 
house. That house was occupied during the whole of the 
ministry of Rev. Mr. Thacher, and was the scene of the 
powerful work of the Holy Spirit on tlio mincls of tins 
people in the years 1741, '42 and '43. 



35 



The Third House was built on a site a few Tods 
north-east of that where we now worship ; and is recollec- 
ted by many of the present generation. It was in that 
house, that the Rev. Messrs. Conant, Barker and Paine 
preached during the whole of their respective minis- 
tries. 

Our present House of worship was erected in the year 
1829, and is by far, the largest, most costly, and most 
convenient of the whole number. 

Let no one say that Houses, well adapted to the public 
worship of God and to the administration of the ordin- 
ances of the gospel, are not proof of the divine favor* 
We might well ask what was the first temple at Jerusa- 
lem, built under the direction of Jehovah, with such 
great preparation, and at such vast cost, during the 
reigns of David and Solomon ? True, there is an impor- 
tant sense, in which " The Most High dwelleth not in 
temples made with hands." He is a spirit. His habi- 
tation is in "the heavens." He is the omnipresent 
Jehovah, not confined to space. But he condescends to 
the children of men ; and, in an important sense also, he 
does dwell in these Houses, which he suffers us to build 
for his worship. And of every such place, it may be 
said now, as it was by the prophet Habakkuk, " The Lord 
is in His holy temple." 

The thought of the divine presence in our houses of wor- 
ship ought to make every one of them a solemn place ; 
and the goodness and faithfulness of God to this church 
and people are to be acknowledged in all those earthly 
temples, which they in their different generations, have 
been permitted to erect for the honor of his name. 

4. But I come in the fourth place to call your atten- 
tion, my hearers, to a still more interesting consideration 



36 



in proof of the faithfulness of God to this church. He 
has attended the various means of salvation, which I 
have enumerated, with the gracious operations of his 
Spirit, on the hearts of the church and people during 
these one hundred and fifty years. 

The merciful design of the gospel is the conversion 
and salvation of sinners; and the object of the outward 
institution of the christian church is to receive convert- 
ed sinners into a covenant relation to God and one 
another, for their sanctification and growth in grace ; so 
that the influence of the church, and especially the ordi- 
nance of the ministry, may bring the power of the gos- 
pel to bear on the minds and hearts of the unconverted 
part of the world. 

But the whole power of the gospel, through the min- 
istry, which God has connected with the church for such 
infinitely important ends, is to be traced to the effica- 
cious workings of the Holy Spirit. 

Here we see that all church organization, all creeds, 
covenants, and ordinances, all houses of worship, all 
preaching of the word, are nothing and accomplish noth- 
ing in sanctifying and saving souls, without the accom- 
panying energies of God's gracious Spirit; so that, after 
all, the bestowment of this divine influenc<5 is the great- 
est gift of God to man, and the crowning blessing of 
the gospel of his grace to a dying world. 

"We are prepared then, my brethren, to see how great 
has been the loving kindness and faithfulness of God to 
this church in bestowing such measures of divine 
influence upon their own minds, and upon the minds of 
this people for these many generations. 
- The ministry of Mr. Fuller, after his ordination, was 
very short; and on account of the loss of the records 



37 



which has been mentioned, little can be known how 
much it was instrumental of accomplishing. 

The same may be said of the ministry of Mr. Palmer, 
which lasted about ten years. Little, indeed, could be 
hoped from the preaching of even evangelical truth, 
where the life of the preacher was a contradiction to his 
doctrine. Still, God as a sovereign, sometimes uses very 
unworthy instruments to accomplish his holy purposes ; 
and, as the records now show that some were members 
of the church at the time when Mr. Palmer's ministry 
closed and Mr. Thacher's began in 1709, who were not 
among the original founders, we must conclude, that 
there were some additions to the church during that 
dark, short period of its history ; but how many, and 
when made, and the names of them all, can probably 
never be known. 

After the settlement of Mr. Thacher, the Holy Spirit 
seemed to return, and his gracious influences were given 
to attend the ministry of that faithful preacher and 
godly pastor with very encouraging, though with differ- 
ent degrees of success at different times, till the com- 
mencement of the Great Eevival, which was in 1741 ; a 
period long to be remembered in the christian history of 
this country, Scotland, and some other parts of Protest- 
ant Europe. The number admitted to the church during 
Mr. Thacher's ministry was Sihoui four hundred and tliirty ; 
of whom one hundred and tiDenty-five were received in the 
year 1742, as the principal fruits of the revival. 

Is it not always safe for us to estimate the fiiithfulness 
of a minister, or any other servant of God, by the appar- 
ent success which attends his labors, at any given time : 
and equally erroneous is it for us to calculate the 
amount of good, of which any man is the instrument, by 



38 



considering the results of his influence as they appear 
during even his whole life ; for the works of 6very one 
who has died in the Lord, do follow him ; and it is 
sometimes the sovereign appointment of God, that his 
servants should be instrumental in preventing sin rather 
than in promoting holiness^ These remarks apply with 
much force to the ministry of Mr. Conant, who succeeded 
Mr. Thacher. These two men died at nearly the same 
age, and after a ministry of nearly the same length. 
They pi cached the same great christian doctrines and 
duties ; they appeared to be influenced by the same 
spirit ; they were alike laborious in their work ; they 
seemed to aim equally at the glory of their divine mas- 
ter. But very different were the apparent results of 
the ministry of the latter from those of the former. Mr. 
Thacher was permited to see during his ministry the 
addition of about four hundred and thirty to the 
church ; while Mr. Conant was allowed to see that of 
about seventy only. 

It is indeed true that God is a sovereign, and that he 
has mercy where he will have mercy ; yet there is such a 
general uniformity in his manner of accompanying the 
right use of the means of salvation with the efficacious 
influence of his grace, that wherever the results in one 
case differ materially from what they are in another, we 
may often discover some of the reasons of the difference. 
And so it is, I apprehend, in the cases before us. There 
are two important reasons, why the ministry of Mr. 
Conant should be instrumental of accomplishing less 
immediate or apparent good than that of Mr. Thacher. 
One is, that the religious susceptibilities of the people 
were greatly exhausted when his labors began. The 
out-pouring of the Holy Spirit had been very copious. 



39 



The revival had taken deep hold of the minds of chris- 
tians and taxed their spirtual energies to an uncommon 
degree. Great numbers of sinners, old and young, 
had been converted. A sealing influence was set in 
that revival upon the labors and prayers and covenant 
faithfulness of the minister and the church for a long 
antecedent period. Before the revival they had been 
sowing in tears ; when it came, for three years they 
reaped in joy. When Mr. Conant came among the peo- 
ple, he found and had to administer upon just such a 
state of things as we have often seen exist in New England, 
after a powerful revival of religion. The human mind 
is so constituted that intense religious excitement ex- 
hausts its powers of feeling and acting. It is so with 
individuals, it is so with churches and with larger commu- 
nities. The Revival of a century ago was uncommon- 
ly powerful, and it took the minds of those, who came 
under its greatest influence, as was the case here, many 
years to come back to the same susceptibility which 
existed at its commencement. 

But there was another cause which operated power- 
fully in preventing the success of Mr, Conant's ministry. 
A few years after his settlement the public mind began 
to be uncommonly occupied with political subjects. The 
difficulties which the colonies had with the mother 
country, were of a serious character. The excitement 
soon became intense, and it continued and increased till 
the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, in the third 
year of which Mr. Conant died. It is easy to see that 
political subjects must have greatly absorbed other 
interests. The public mind was turned away from the 
subject of religion, and even christians and chri.e'- 
tian churches suflered greatly in their spiritual interests. 



40 



In the two considerations now mentioned, we may see 
some obvious reasons, why Mr. Conant's ministry should 
not have yielded as much apparent fruit as that of other 
men, who preached the same truths, and labored in the 
same spirit of evangelical fidelity. Indeed, it would 
have been a great achievement of his ministry if it had 
barely saved the church from going over to moral and 
religious errors, in such a day of trial and darkness as 
he lived in. But it accomplished more than this. It 
kept the church and people on the Lord's side ; and his 
labors were such as his successor might well rejoice to 
enter into. 

Mr. Barker commenced his ministry a little before the 
close of the Revolutionary War. When that event took 
place, the public mind soon sought and found the rest 
it had been many years deprived of. True, the revolu- 
tionary times had had the effect of corrupting the pub- 
lic morals, as well as the public religious sentiment. But 
when peace came, the people had time to rest, time 
to think. It became more practicable to gain their 
attention to religious truth. Ministers found more encour- 
agement in preaching the gospel. Accordingly, in the 
first thirteen years of Mr. Barker's ministry, there were 
as many admitted to the church as in all the thirty-two 
of that of Mr Conant. It was different, however, in the 
years which followed, and which brought the history of 
the church down to 1806 : during those twelve years 
there was an addition to it oi only t}iirUj41iree. 

But God was about to remember mercy again for 
this ancient church, and to show that he had not forgot- 
ten his faithfuhiess to its many generations. In the 
years 1807 and '8, a new and powerful revival was enjoyed. 
As the fruits of it, there were gathered into the 



41 



cliurcli in those two years, and in 1809 the number of 
ninety -five. Tlie whole number admitted to the church 
during Mr. Barker's ministry was tivo hundred and forifj-f our. 

The number admitted during the short ministry of 
Mr. Paine, which was a little more than six years, was 
twelve. 

In 1823, while there was no settled minister, another 
precious out-pouring of the Spirit was granted ; and 
seventif-tivo were added to the church in that year. 

Mr. Eaton's ministry commenced in 1824, and ended 
in 1834 ; during which time there were some seasons of 
special revival. In the three years of 1829, '30, and '31, 
forty-one persons were added to _ the church ; and the 
whole number admitted during his ministry was sixty- 
one. 

Some special effusions of the Holy Spirit were enjoy, 
ed by us here in 1840 and '41 ; and there were added 
to the church in those two years, the number o^ fifty. 
The whole number added duringt he present ministry, — 
that is, from 1835 to 1845, — is one hundred and seven, nine 
of whom were added the past year. 

In consequence of the loss of the early records of the 
church, it is impossible to state with accuracy the whole 
number of admissions. The names of about ten hun- 
dred and fifty, however, have been ascertained, which 
would make the average of annual admission seven 
members for the whole period. Such, my hearers, are 
the general results experienced from the organization of 
this church one hundred and fifty years ago, and from the 
preaching of the gospel here during that period. More 
than one thousand persons have, by these means of grace, 
been brought to make a public profession of the name of 
Christ, and to take the vows of God upon them. Hoav 
6 



42 



many ol them will, in the great clay appear to have been 
real converts, the books then to be opened will show. 
And those books will show also, how many other persons, 
of the different generations here, during this century 
and a half, who, although they never confessed Christ 
before men, have actually accepted the salvation offered 
them by his ministers. Nor can I fail here to add that 
other reflection, still more affecting, — which is, that those 
books will show how many of these generations, who 
had the offer of eternal life thus made to them, rejected 
it and perished ! 

If it should be asked where such of these church 
members, as have departed this life, actually closed their 
mortal course, — the answer would be that most of them 
lived and died in this place. Their bodies have returned 
to the dust, and are mouldering in the several burying 
grounds of the parish. But some of them were dismiss- 
ed at different times to aid in forming the churches in 
the west and north precincts of the town, and in Halifax. 
Others also have been dismissed to join other churches 
in this and other States ; and others again have died in 
near or distant places, while they retained their mem- 
bership here. How many of the whole number are now 
living it is impossible to say. Two hundred and fifty - 
seven of them are still actual members of this church. 
But you see what a great proportion have passed away 
from all mortal scenes, and are " fixed in an eternal 
state." 

If time did not fail me, and if there were not, as I 
have already mentioned, in a course of preparation, such 
a historical notice as will give you the fullest details 
concerning the church, its ministers, its deacons, its 
houses of worship, and other things of like interest. 



43 



together with a complete list of its members^ I should love 
to dwell on such particulars, — as I am persuaded they 
will go still further to illustrate the very precious truth, 
which it has been my object this day to present to 
your minds ; which is The faithfulness of God to this church 
during the century and half which is now Just expiring. But 
I have already trespassed much on your patience, and 
must hasten to a close with such reflections as the sub- 
ject and occassion obviously suggest. Let me, however, 
here remark; that in the statements already made, 
especially as to dates and numbers, I have endeavored 
to be exact ; but I cannot hope to have attained to per- 
fect accuracy in this respect. That could hardly be 
expected in consulting so many accounts, especially as 
they are sometimes not a little contradictory. 

REFLECTIONS. 

1. Our first reflection is on the offering of gratitude, which 
is due from us this day to God for his condescending, 
patient and faithful care of our beloved church. 

One hundred and fifty years have now passed away 
since eleven men and nine zvomen, having hope in the Lord 
Jesus, and dwelling in this town, stood up near this spot, 
to engage in all those covenant transactions, by which 
was laid the foundation of one of the many thousand 
churches of Christ on earth. And oh, my christian 
friends, what a Faithful God has this church found its 
great covenant Head to be ! How condescending to it in 
its low estate ; how patient and forgiving toward it in all 
its backslidings ; how gracious in giving it such meas- 
ures of the Holy Spirit ; how faithful in keeping it to 



44 



this day, built, as v>^e trust it is, on the sure foundation 
which God hath laid in Zion. 

Let us, then, joyfully present the offering of thanks- 
giving and praise to our adorable and " faithful God, 
which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love 
him and keep his commandments, to a thousand gener- 
ations." Such a grateful tribute is his just due. Let it 
be offered by every heart. 

2. A second reflection is on the humiliation, which 
becomes us, at this time, in view of any departures from 
the purity and simplicity of our fathers, either in doctrine, 
.spirit, discipline, order or manner of living, of which we 
are consciously guilty. 

It is a serious thing, my brethren, for us to belong to 
a church, Avhose founders and members of former gener* 
tions were such as we know ours to have been. The 
guilt of any who have gone before us is not chargeable 
upon ourselves. We have nothing to answer for except 
our own defects and our own sins. But is there not 
occaion for us to be humble, when we reflect how little 
we love "the church of God which he hath purchased with 
his own blood," and how few sacrifices we make for its 
welfare? For the orthodoxy of its faith, for the purity 
of its practice, for the faithfulness of its discipline, we 
are responsible. Now are we not sensible, that we have 
some low views of christian truth, order, discipline, 
and practical living ? Do we feel that, as a church, and 
as individuals, all is right with us ? Are we what our 
fathers were ? Have we the same zeal for the honor of our 
Saviour, which they manifested ? Are we as conscien- 
tious in '-' walking in the commandments and ordinances 
Q^ the Lord, blameless," as they were ? Surely we see 



45 



great occasion to be humble, when we address ourselves 
with such questions as these. How strict were they in 
observinjjc the Sabbath ! How constant in their attend- 
ance at the sanctuary ! How faithful in maintaining 
family prayer, and in giving daily instruction from the 
Scriptures to their households, as well as in all the other 
duties of family religion ! What a high privilege did 
they regard it to consecrate their children to God, in the 
holy ordinance of baptism, therein following the exam- 
ple of believers under the ancient dispensation, and 
thereby binding themselves with the welcome obliga- 
tions of bringing them up in the nurture and admonition 
of the Lord! The present generation may imagine, that 
they have advantageously gotten rid of what they call 
the austerity of their Pilgrim Fathers, and that they 
better understand the philosophy of religion, and the 
liberality as well as the liberty of the gospel. But the 
signs of the times and the evils in the churches, give 
strono; intimation that their imaorinations are vain. Let 
us, who belong to this church, search our hearts, and 
try our ways by that holy standard which God has ap-^ 
j)ointed. Let us humble ourselves for all our backslid- 
ings and failures of duty, penitently confessing them^ 
and seeking forgiveness of Him " whose mercy endureth 
forever.'* 

3. We ought to listen to the call there is for more zeal 
and dcvotedness to the service of our covenant-keeping 
God. When we first avouched the Lord to be our God, 
my friends, we then entered into engagements, which 
can never be broken ; we made vows, from which we 
can never go back. When we finally entered this 
church, whether it was at our first profession of the name 
of Christ, or by the removal of our relation from some 



46 



other church, we solemnly consecrated onrselves to t 
service of Christ here. We promised the brethren and 
Bisters who then consituted the church, that we would 
walk with them in the truth of the gospel, that we 
would labor with them in the spirit of Christ, and that 
if it should be God's will, we would die with them in 
the hope of a future eternal union in his kingdom. We 
knew what this church was, and something of what it 
had been ; certainly we knew for what purposes it pro- 
fessed to live. Many of those with whom we thus en- 
tered into solemn covenant, are removed from the 
church below, as are also the hundreds of those who 
were members here before themselves. But the church 
remains ; the confession of faith remains ; the covenant 
remains ; the glorious objects for which it was instituted 
remain 5 our own vows remain. Yes, my Christian 
friends, we here came into one branch of the family of 
Christ ; we deliberately chose this church as our earthly 
home. We promised to serve Him who has made it^ 
hitherto, such a pleasant home for our weary souls ; a 
home, which is a delightful emblem of that eternal rest 
where we hope to see his glory more, and love and serve 
and enjoy him better. I come, then, my beloved breth- 
ren and sisters in the Lordj to call upon you this day, — as 
I would call upon myself, — while the church is now enter* 
ing on the second hundred and fifty years of its exist- 
ence, to wake up to the claims which the Saviour has 
upon your love and your service. Those pious men and 
women, who first started this church into existence, a 
century and a half ago, then gave it a Christian charac- 
ter, which a faithful God has enabled it ever since to 
sustain ; and you, my friends, are now going to start 
the church again on the course of another similar period. 



47 



Oh, where will you be, when those hundred and fifty 
years are ended ? Where ? In glory, I hope and pray, 
with all the members of the church, who in the whole 
three hundred years, shall be found to have been " faith- 
ful." But, be faithful yourselves, or that glory will not 
be yours. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ ! Oh, 
can there be a higher, nobler, holier object, for which to 
live ; or any better service, in which to labor and even 
to die ? 

I appeal to you, all. Ye aged ones, your day is fast 
declining. The shades of night will soon be upon you. 
Yours is the privilege to see the church enter upon 
another, and as we trust, long course of its existence. 
Be thankful that you have lived to see this day, and now 
whatever you would do to help in giving a right direc- 
tion to its Christian energies, let me entreat you to do 
quickly. If you have any more time, or prayer, or 
property, or labor, or influence, to give to the church of 
the Lord Jesus, give it now ; for your day of giving and 
of serving will soon be over. 

I call upon the members of the church in middle life. 
Your danger, my friends, is that you will be like one, 
whom the Saviour rebuked for worldly-mindedness, 
"careful about many things." Be exhorted to "seek 
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all 
these things shall be added unto you." Be faithful to 
your covenant vows and your Saviour. Love and serve 
Us church, and he will let your names appear at last, writ- 
ten in bright letters in the Book of Life. 

My dear young friends, members of the church, I 
delight to turn to you. Oh, what is there, that I may 
not say to those whom I so tenderly love ? • What Avord 
of ministerial exhortation shall I keep back from those, 



48 

whom it lias been my lot more particularly to be instru- 
mental of bringing to the hope of the gospel, and even 
into the bosom of the church of Christ. To you I 
would affectionately appeal. Shall I not have your 
youthful days, your youthful prayers, your youthful en- 
ergies, for the service of Him, whose I am, and whom I 
aim to serve ? Oh, will you not go with me to the la- 
bors, and toils, and sacrifices, necessary to follow a self- 
denying and crucified Saviour? Is there any mere 
earthly pleasure or enjoyment or object, which you will 
not freely give up, if necessary, that you may be fi)und 
among the holy, devoted disciples of Jesus ? Be faith- 
ful, my dear young friends, to that sacred name which 
you have taken upon you. Serve this church of Christ 
with a pure mind, and with a holy zeal ; and in the 
great day he will say of you, as he did of some in Sar- 
dis, " these shall walk with me in white, for they are 
worthy." Yes, through the golden streets of the New 
Jerusalem, even you shall walk with that Saviour, being 
made worthy through the infinite merit of his death. 

Brethren and sisters of the church, of every age and 
every condition, " Suffer the word of exhortation." So 
far as you are concerned, let the church begin the second 
era of a century and half, as it began the first, with an 
entire consecration of all there is in its members to 
Christ. Are you conscious of backslidings ? Then look 
to Him, who alone can heal them. Is there less of 
prayer in your closets and in your families than there 
should be? Then return to those neglected duties. 
Resolve, as did Joshua, and as did the pious founders of 
this church, and say, each one of you, " as for me and 
my house, we will serve the Lord." Are there any of 
you who feel that you have neglected a duty you owe to 



49 



your beloved children, in consecrating them, as well as 
yourselves, to the Lord ? Then bring them forth with- 
out delay, and let the seal of the everlasting covenant 
be set upon them. Let them be baptized in the name of 
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Let 
this be done, on your part, with true faith in God, and 
then you will have his promise that he will pour his 
Spirit upon your seed, and his blessing upon your off- 
spring. Do your consciences tell you that you neglect 
the public and social means of grace? Then come to 
the house of the Lord on his Holy Day, and be present 
when his word is preached and his ordinances are admin- 
istered. Attend the private meetings of prayer and 
religious conference. Speak often to one another, as did 
the pious Jews in the time of Malachi, and the Lord 
will hearken and hear it, if you fear Him and think upon 
his name ; and he will pronounce you His, in the day 
when he makes up his jewels. Do you feel condemned 
for not walking more worthily of your Christian voca- 
tion? Then think of him "who was holy, harmless, 
undefiled, and separate from sinners." 

You know, my Christian friends, what is needed to 
make this generation among whom you dwell, a truly 
Christian people, and to impart to their character a piety, 
which shall send its influence down far into the era 
which we are now commencing. You have feeling 
enough to wish for the divine interposition ; and some- 
times you exclaim, " Oh, that the work of the Lord were 
revived! " I have therefore but one more question to ask 
you. Do you not know it is written, that your heavenly 
Father is more willing to give his Holy Spirit to them 
that ask him, than you yourselves are to give good gifts 
to your children ? As you value your own hopes of 
7 



50 



eternal life, and your growth in grace ; as you wish to 
see the Saviour honored, in the conversion and salvation 
of the generation to which you belong; as you desire to 
be instrumental of accomplishing something that shall 
tell upon all the generations of this people, down to the 
end of another century and half, (A. D. 1995,) then 
come to what you well know is your duty. That is all 
that God requires of you, the rest is His. 

And this brings me to my 

4. Final reflection, which is, that all our hope for the 
preservation of this church, and for the salvation of this 
people in coming time, ^> in God alone. 

His hand enabled the feeble band of twenty to estab- 
lish it at first ; his hand has sustained it hitherto ; his 
hand, and his alone, can keep it to the end. It consists 
now, and as long as it has a being, will consist, of sinful 
and erring mortals. If left to themselves, they will make 
shipwreck of the faith, they will tread under foot the 
Son of God, they will count the blood of the covenant 
an unholy thing, and will do despite unto the Spirit of 
grace. If forsaken of God, they will " wax worse and 
worse," and will be judicially given up, and their name 
will be forever blotted out. Such, I say, will be the 
course and end of the church, if it be not God's merci- 
ful purpose to keep it and save it. "We come, then to 
give up an interest so dear to us into the hands of a 
sovereign God, rejoicing in Him, and humbly believing 
that, for his own name's sake, he will manifest his faith- 
fulness unto all the coming generations of this beloved 
church and people. 

He can, with infinite ease, prepare for them those 
future pastors and teachers, whom they will need. With 
him is the residue of the Spirit, and he can, from time 



51 



to time, add to the communion of the church glorious 
numbers of such as shall be saved. His word is truth, 
and through that word he can sanctify and fit them for 
his heavenly kingdom. Here we leave the church, and 
trust its keeping to its Almighty Saviour's care. 

But shall I close without adding a word to those who 
are not members of the church ? No ; I would not, — 
for surely they have a deep interest in all I have said 
this day. There are two classes of this description 
among my hearers. Some of you, my friends, are 
hoping that although you are not members of the visi- 
ble church, you are yet real Christians, and in the way 
of being saved. It may be so ; but if it is, there is one 
serious and difficult question for you to answer at the 
beginning of this year. It is this : "Why, with such a 
hope, however feeble and trembling it may be, you can 
go on in disobedience to the will of Him who requires 
you to confess him before men, and in remembrance of 
his dying love, to sit with his followers at his table ? I 
do not put this question to reproach you, but to bring 
you to the performance of a neglected duty. Under 
the covenant protection of God, there is not only safety 
for your souls, but comfort and strength also. Seek 
those spiritual blessings, then, which you need, in the 
covenant favor of Him who is willing to avouch himself 
to be your God, if you will avouch yourselves to be his 
people. 

But I would speak also to those of you, my friends, 
who have not this Christian hope. You have this day 
heard me say much concerning the favor of God toward 
those Avho become his true people ; and I think you will 
admit that their hopes and prospects are of infinitely 
greater value than all that the world can bestow upon 



52 



them. You are now, in common with all here, who are 
real Christians, beginning that period which I have often 
named. You do not expect to see its end. Your reason 
tells you that with the first of the generations of that 
time, you will pass away from the scenes of this proba- 
tionary state, and will dwell in eternity. And where, 
let me ask you, will you be, at the end of one hundred 
and fifty years from this day ? Where will your immor- 
tal spirits then dwell? WilTit be in the world of glory, 
or in the world of woe ? If you become the people of 
God, you will dwell in his kingdom. If you fail of that, 
you will " be cast into outer darkness." You will allow 
me, my friends, to speak thus plainly to you, for I am 
seeking your good. I beg you to give these thoughts a 
place in your minds. Let them sink deep within you. 
Think how quickly one generation, the average term of 
your life, passes away. Fifty years ago. Rev. Mr. Barker 
stood almost on this very spot, and preached a century 
sermon, on an occasion similar to the present. Even that 
appears to be a long period. But those fifty years are 
gone, and with them are gone the preacher and almost 
the whole of that assembly who heard him. How few 
are in this house to-day, who were present then ! An- 
other fifty years, and yet another will pass equally soon. 
One generation of this people will follow another. 
These older burying grounds will be filled with the dead, 
and the living will seek new places where to lay their 
own bodies when they shall follow in their turn. Thus 
will come round the year 1995, which will show a gene- 
ration here, who will know little or nothing of us, and 
who will walk unconsciously over our graves. But where 
then shall zve be? Where the immortal spirits of this 
assembly ? To have been in heaven, during what we 



53 



here call a hundred and fifty years, will be but the begin, 
ning of bliss. To have been in hell, that same duration 
will be but the beginning of wo ! 

But I must cease : Let me, then, only add that now 
the church on earth is open, and all may enter, who will 
seek admission through the door which the Saviour has 
appointed. Open also is the entrance to the church 
above : will you, my hearers, seek admission there ? 
You have your free choice. You can take your lot 
either with the people of God, or with those who slight 
the promised rest. Oh, make the wise choice. Secure 
the favor of your final Judge ; and then, when centuries 
and ages shall have rolled away, your happiness will be 
secure, and you will look forward to scenes of increas- 
ing bliss and glory throughout an unending eternity. 

Amen. 



CHRONOLOGICAL NOTICES. 



1694, 0. S., Dec. 26. The First Church of Mlddleborough, was or- 
ganized, and Rev. Samuel Fuller ordained. 

1695, Aug. 17. Mr. Fuller died, aged 70. 
1700, May 29. Second Meeting House erected. 
1702, May 2. Rev. Thomas Palmer ordained. 

1708, June 30. Mr. Palmer deposed. 

1709, Nov. 2. Rev. Peter Thacher ordained. 
1725, Oct. 12. West Px-ecinct Church organized. 

1734, Oct. 13. Nineteen members dismissed to form a church in 
Halifax. 

1737, Nov. 13. Dr. Thomas Palmer, formerly Pastor, restored to the 
fellowship of the church. 

1742, The great Revival ; 148 added to the church. 

1744, April 22. Mr. Thacher died, aged 55. 

1745, Mar. 7. Rev. Sylvanus Conant ordained. 
1745, Third Meeting House erected. 

1748, Feb. 4. Church in North Mlddleborough organized. 

1777, Dec 8. Mr. Conant died, aged 55. 

1781, Dec. 5. Rev. Joseph Barker ordained. 

1807 & 1808, Revival ; 95 added to the church. 

1815, July 25. Mr. Barker died, aged 64. 

1816, Feb. 14. Rev. Emerson Paine ordained. 
1822, June 4. Mr. Paine dismissed. 

1823, Revival; 72 added to the church. 

1824, Mar. 10. Rev. William Eaton installed. 

1828, The present Meeting House erected. 

1829 & 1831, Revival ; 36 added to the church. 

1834, Mar. 5. Mr. Eaton dismissed. 

1835, Oct. 28. Rev. Israel W. Putnam installed. 

1840, '41, & '42, Revival ; 68 added to the church. 

1843, The Chapel at Four Corners Village erected. 

1847, Mar. 12. Thirty-three members dismissed and organized as the 
Central Congregational Church. 

1849, Aug. 16. The Meeting House of the Central Church dedicated, 
Rev. Isaiah C. Thacher installed. 



A TABLE, 

Showing the annual admission of Members, the number Baptized when admitted 
and the total Baptisms, in the Fikst Chukch of Middleboro', Mass. 







a 


5 
■a 


3 






g1 

i;f 1 






u 

a 


1 


i 




(.1 


s 


C3 s 1 




S 


^'0'^ 




K 




C 


■3 


PASTORS. 


C3 


§ 


1 


n 


PASTORS. 


1 


3 is 5 


PASTORS. 




s 

^ 


.a 


^ 






a 

■a 




i 

o 

H 






■2 •= 1 
1 S.i^ 






1 


.a 


1 






•< 










l'^' 






< 


c: 






" — 


~~ 


— 


— 














_^^ 








^ 


Rev. S. Fuller. 


1694 20 


3 


7 


Rev. S. Conant. 


1773 


6 


2'l7! 


Rev. J. Barker. 


1814 


9 


5 


13 


E«v. T Palmer. 


' — 


— 


1 




1774 


1 


016' 




1815 


2 





6 


Records lost to 


1708 15 










1775 








1 

















— 


— 


— 




1776 


3 





8 


Rev. E. Paine. 


1816 


3 





2 


ReT. P. Thacher. 


1709 


1 





% 




1777 


1 





10 




1817 








16 




1710 


11 


1 


19 














1818 








5 




1711 








5, 


Vacancy. 


1778 








2 




1819 


11 


6 


9 




1712 


1 





8' 




1779 








3' 




1820 


1 





1 




1713 


9 


6 


13; 




1780 


1 





5j 




1821 













1714 


1 


1 


8 








— 






1822 













1715 


13 


3 23| 


Rev. J. Barker. 


1781 


4 





o\ 














1716 


9 


2 


25 




1782 15' 4 


34' 


Vacancy. 


1823 


72 


44 


44 




1717 


1 





9i 




1783 


5 





18 

















1718 


7 


1 


28 




1784 


7 


1 


10 


Rev. y^'va. Eaton. 


1824 


11 


2 


9 




1719 


3 


1 


13! 




1785 


5 


1 


4 




1825 


2 





2 




1720 


2 





Hi 




1786 


6 


1 


25 




1826 


3 


2 


8 




1721 


7 


2 


35 




1787 


7 


3 


16 




1827 


1 





4 




1722 


9 


2 


20| 




1788 


3 


112 




1828 








1 




1723 


8 


1 


18| 




1789 


7 


0,35 




1829 


15 


12 


18 




1724 


7 


1 


19 




1790 


1 


0!5 




1830 


5 


2 


4 




1725 


8 


1 


25 




1791 


3 


110 




1831 


21 


17 


17 




1726 4 


1 


26, 




1792 


2 


1 7 




1832 


2 





1 




1727! 8 


1 


^^1 




1793 3 


1 5 




1833 


3 


2 


2 




1728 18 


1 


30' 




1794 


13! 613: 




1834 













1729, 22 


7 


i°i 




1795 


4 


3 














1730l 7 





34I 




1796 


2 


el 


Rev. I. W. Putnam. 


18.35 


1 










1731; 10 





25; 




1797 


6 


oil! 




1836 


4 





2 




1732' 3 


1 


36; 




1798 


1 


nil 




1837 


10 


7 


11 




1733 22 


4.33: 




1799 


3 










1838 


9 


9 


15 




1734 15 


5;3? 




1800 


4 


2 


6 




1839 


2 





3 




1735 " 


5 


1 


28 




1801 


2 


2 


2 




1840 


23 


15 


17 




1736 


15 


5 


46 




1802 


3 


1 


8 




1841 


26 


15 


18 




1737 


4 





41 




1803 


2 





4! 




1842 


19 


11 


11 




1738 


2 





27| 




1804 


1 










1843 


4 


1 


1 




1739 12 


2 


37: 




1805 


1 





2 




1844 


9 


2 


2 




1740 3 


1 


.32! 




1806 


5 


4 


4 




1845 


3 










17411 14 


1 


:34i 




1807 


.543351! 




1846 


1 










1742,148 


34 


95 




18(:8 2913 351 




1847 








4 




1743 


17 


1 


37] 




18(9 121 4:10l 




1848 








1 




1744 


4 





20! 




1810 


6; 2251 




1849 
















— — 


— 


— ' 




1811 


1! 0! 6| 




1850 


9 


5 


6 


BeT. S. Conant. 


1745 


1 





.36 




1812 


11 012 




1851 


11 


7 


7 




1746 
1747 
1748 
1749 
1750 


3 
J 



{) 


31 i 

28 




18131 I7I 61 7l 














8 

1 
3 





1 


41 

24 
36 


SUMMARY. 










1 P 1 






1751 


2 


1 


21 




. „ 


S . 


1 V 1 






1752 








28 






« 


.3 l 


* 


3.1' 




1753 








18 






S 2 


si 


t;.-S 




1754 
1755 


1 
1 







25 
19 


NAMES C 


)F PASTORS, 


32 


al 


sa 


n 




1756 


1 





24 






P4 


-«)^ 


rt^ 






1757 
1758 
1759 
1760 
1761 
1762 


2 










15 

26! 
10 
25 
14 
20 










n 






7 
1 
3 
1 
4 


Mr. Fuller, - 


1 1 20 1 3| 7 




Mr. Palmer, no re 


cords, - - . - - 1 13 1 15 1 | 




Mr. Thacher, - 


1 35 1 430 1 87 1 985 




Mr. Conant, 


i 33| 76 1 6| b55 




1763 
1764 


11 
2 


0il4 


Vacancy, - - - 


i 3| 11 0| 10 




1766 
1766 
1767 
1768 
1769 
1770 
1771 
1772 


3 


025 


Mr. Barker, 


1 34 1 246 1 93 1 418 




3 111' 

Q 1 Ofi! 


Mr Paine, - - 


------- 1 7 1 15 1 6 1 33 




o 

1 


2 
5 



010! 

010 

on 

015 

oio! 


Vacancy, - - 


----.--- 1 1 1 72 1 44 1 44 




Mr. Eaton, 


------- 1 10 1 63 1 37 1 66 




Mr. Putnam, - 


1 16 1 131 1 72 1 98 


















_106' 


)_L3 


48_| 


23 


16 



ERRATA. 



LINES FROM TOP. 

P. 0, 1. 7 for Howlad read Rowland. 

P. 6, 1. 6 for 1st r. 6th. 

P. 36, 1. 5 for Nov. 2 r. Nov. 1. 

1. 10 and 23 for Mary r. Mercy. 
P. 37, 1. 15 after Soule, add, and child. 

1. IG for Hannah Love r. wid. Hannah Cox. 
P. 42, 1. 8 for Blanford r. Branford. 

1. 13 for 5 r. 25 ; p. 44, 1. 9 for 12 r. 15. 
P. 45, 1. 10 for Tinkham r. Raymond. 

1. 17, add, Henry Thomas and Joseph Tinkham. 
P. 50, 1. 13, for holy and without sin r. perfectly holy. 
P. 53, 1. 1 for Finney r. Tinkham. 
1'. 54, Is. 2, 3 omit all after deacon. 

Is, 4, 5 after Cobb omit the two lines. 
P. Gl, 1. 1 after and r. was ; for was r. had a. 
P. G8, for 25 r. 12. 
V. 74, Cobb, for 418, 425 r. 518, 525. 

LINKS FUOM BOTTOM. 

P. 3, line 9, for easterly read westerly. 

P. 5, 1. 13, for 1690 r. 1G98. 

P. 34, 1. 1, for 24 r. 19 >, p. 35, 1. 9, for 70 r. 78th. 

P. 36, 1. 7, for Shore, &c., r. Stone of Southboro'. 

P. 37, 1. 6, r. so sleep the saints and cease, &c. 

P. 38, 1. 18, for grade r. glade. 

P. 43, 1. 5, for July r. June. 

P. 45, 1. 1, for fifty r. sixty. 

1*. 49, 1. 11, after on r. having. 

P. 51, 1. 7, r. a sentence of just. 

P. 53, 1. 5, for 25, 1849, r. 12, 1847. 

P. 54, 1. 13, for Rutland r. Royalton. 

P. 60, 1. 1, after a, add, sound. 

P. 64, 1. 13, for Abigail r. Abijah. 

P. 70, 1. 16, for There r. These. 

J)esc. Cat. No. 172, r. d. Jy. 30. 

No. 480, admitted 1750, not 1751, 

No. 640, was dismissed, when ordained. 

No. 948. is still a member here. 



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